Author: Diana M. Cuyler

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Average price of motorcycles climbs 38% to NT $ 55,000

Motorcycle Price
  • By Aileen Chuang / Journalist

The average price of a motorcycle sold in Taiwan reached NT $ 55,000 per unit last year, up 38% from eight years earlier, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said yesterday.

Last year’s figure compares with an average price of less than NT $ 40,000 per unit before 2008 and NT $ 53,100 in 2014, the ministry said in a report.

Prices have increased in recent years as manufacturers added more sophisticated features to their products, such as electronic fuel injection devices, thanks to increased environmental awareness, according to the report.

With greater public attention paid to air pollution and carbon reduction issues, the government set a new standard for motorcycle emissions in 2009, forcing manufacturers to upgrade fuel injection systems to the electronic ignition.

The new regulations have increased the need for more advanced equipment and made motorcycles more expensive, according to the report.

He said the addition of large motorcycles, models of 251 cubic centimeters or more, and electric scooters to the market also helped push prices up.

Meanwhile, domestic sales of motorcycles fell from 869,000 units in 2008 to 694,000 units last year due to the completion of MRT lines and the growing popularity of YouBike services since 2009, the ministry said.

Motorcycle exports fell from 558,000 units in 2007 to 200,000 units last year due to market developments, the ministry said.

The report says the Taiwanese motorcycle market has turned to domestic sales, with the ratio of domestic sales to overseas sales increasing significantly from 57.5% in 2007 to 77.3% last year. .

IMPORTS

In addition, imported motorcycles have shown double-digit percentage growth over the years, with large motorcycles becoming increasingly popular in Taiwan, especially after regulatory approval four years ago to allow them to use. major roads, according to the report.

BOOST ‘GREEN’

Motorcycles, one of the country’s most popular forms of transportation, are expected to see increased production and prices thanks to the promotion of “green†energy and government incentive programs for consumers , the ministry said.

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Farm of 35 years of activity of Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Atascadero

Motorcycle Business

A long-time reseller of Harley davidson motorcycles and clothing closed the doors of its 27,000 square foot Atascadero building in the 7900 block from Avenida San Luis Sunday after 35 years of activity.

Gary Bang Harley-Davidson Director Kristy Bang-Popowich said on Thursday that the local market is simply not big enough to support the business.

At its peak, Bang-Popowich said, the store sold around 125 motorcycles a year, but sales had fallen to around 50 in recent years. She said Harley-Davidson has slowly increased the number of outlets authorized to sell its motorcycles and cost the store much of its business outside the county. Harley-Davidson’s push towards online sales then slashed their clothing sales, she said.

“It’s just not an area big enough for our size and we really needed to have that ground traffic,†she said.

The company, owned by Bang-Popowich’s parents Gary and Mary Bang, began as an aftermarket supplier in the San Fernando Valley and began selling the American icon exclusively in 1980.

When it closed, the company had seven employees.

Bang-Popowich said she, her co-manager and sister Lisa Bang and their parents plan to stay in the county.

This story was originally published December 31, 2015 5:09 p.m.

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Enjoying the ride: the motorcycle company celebrates its 50th anniversary | Jackson County Chronicle

Motorcycle Business

Cassandra Colson Reporter

The late Al Muth’s passion for motorcycles was so strong that he couldn’t understand why others didn’t feel the same.

“He just could never understand why everyone in the world didn’t have a motorcycle,†said Muth’s wife Jeri. “He just enjoyed this endless bike.”

Muth’s love for motorcycles – and especially the iconic Harley-Davidson models – is what paved the way for a successful Jackson County business that is known across the country. Al Muth Harley-Davidson marks its half century this year after operating in the city of Adams for just over 50 years.

“The people of Black River have always accepted motorcycles,†said Mark Muth, one of Al’s sons who currently runs the business with his wife, son and 15 employees. “We love it here.

“It was a lot of work, but it was also very rewarding. We have a lot of clients who are good friends – really.

Al got his first motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson, at age 17 after his father sold a cow to pay for the motorcycle, which at the time cost around $ 65. Al eventually went to work as a cycle mechanic, performed at fairs, and traveled across the country on his bicycle before returning to his parents’ farm in Adams town in 1958 with Jeri to milk the cows.

This is what the couple did exclusively until 1960, when they started a chainsaw dealership on the property and began exploring launching a local Harley-Davidson franchise in 1964.

But it wasn’t as easy as approaching the motorcycle company and getting the green light.

Harley-Davidson officials did not want a franchise in the Black River Falls area due to anticipated sales potential: Geographic analysis indicated the Muths could only sell one or two motorcycles from their farm property rural on Snow Creek Road.

“They said no to daddy. He said, ‘That’s good, but I’m going to sell motorcycles, so if it’s not Harley, it will be something else,’ â€said Mark.

Al Muth Harley-Davidson has proven the projection to be wrong. The company sold 10 motorcycles in the first year and 38 years later, in 2003, the franchise sold 199 new motorcycles – the most new cycles in operating history.

The company, which moved to its current location on Highway A in 2000, continues to thrive as it sells new and used motorcycles, Harley-Davidson merchandise, and has a very active after-sales service.

Customers come from near and far to visit the Muths’ business, Mark said.

“That’s the good thing is we’ve been here long enough that the word covers the whole country with t-shirts and different things that we’ve done for people,” he said. . “We’ve been here long enough that people know where we are in the motorcycle business – all over the country, that’s my feeling.”

Dave Holcomb, the company’s service manager, said he was drawn to working at Al Muth Harley-Davidson because of his own passion for motorcycles. He then graduated in agriculture after high school, but jumped at the opportunity to work as a mechanic in the Muth service department when he saw the opening.

He said he was fortunate to work with Al, former mechanic Neil Knudson, and play a role in the motorcycle business which continues to evolve as technology advances.

Motorcycles make people feel like part of a family, he said.

“My heart was in bikes and snowmobiles and there was an opening,†said Holcomb. “It seems (riding a motorcycle) is like joining a family.

“It’s so easy to go to a cycle rally and find good people.

The business has always been a family business, with Al operating it until his death 27 years ago. Jeri worked as an accountant over the years and Mark eventually took over the business. One of Mark’s earliest memories is riding in the sidecar of his parents’ motorcycle, and he would also love rides and races.

“(Getting into the sidecar) was fun – it was exciting,†he said. “I grew up with (motorcycles). That’s why I’m doing it. I’ve grown up with this my whole life. “

Jeri said she had fond memories of the trips she and Al had taken with the motorcycle club they helped found, and she remembers one in particular they took in Nashville that was particularly hot.

“I’m telling you, I think that year we had the very first new air-conditioned car. It was so hot there and when we got to the motel, I said to Al, we were almost toast, and I said, “You know, we have our first new air conditioned car and where is it?” He’s sitting in the garage at home, â€she laughed.

“We had a lot of fun on the bike.

Al Muth Harley-Davidson is planning a 50th anniversary celebration July 8-11 at its N6630 Highway A location with live music, a show with well-known stuntman Bubba Blackwell, a vintage bike tent and other shows from ‘horse riding. For more information visit www.almuth-harleydavidson.com or call (715) 284-4725.

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Which motorcycle brand has the most owner satisfaction?

Motorcycle Brand

Most other satisfaction categories scored close across all brands, with handling being the other exception. Can-Am, with its distinctive three-wheeler, was rated as having average ride satisfaction, lower than all other brands. In our experience, Can-Am Spyders lack the natural agility associated with traditional motorcycles. That’s not a bad thing, but the driving experience is quite different. (The new Spyder F3 models aim to address some criticisms, increasing power and agility, and adding more adjustability for comfort.)

If you’re considering a big V-twin cruiser or touring bike, you’d be wise to take a Victory for a test drive. Victory not only excelled in owner satisfaction, but the company demonstrated high reliability, which puts it almost on par with major Japanese brands.

For a more diverse selection of models, Honda presents itself as a safe choice that performs well in both owner satisfaction and reliability.

Regardless of the brand, an important insight from our 11,000+ responding subscribers is that comfort matters. Be sure to focus on this factor during a test drive and, if necessary, explore handlebar and peg dial options to improve on the factory default setup. Many motorcycles, especially newer models, have extensive options for such adjustments.

Visit our motorcycle buying guide to see all of our reliability and owner satisfaction ratings.

—Jeff Bartlet

Polaris Acquires Brammo Electric Motorcycle Business

Motorcycle Business

Big news coming from the electric motorcycle camp today, as Polaris announced that it has acquired the electric motorcycle business from Brammo Inc. In addition, Polaris is acting as a leading investor in a Brammo recapitalization that allows the company to focus exclusively on the design, development and integration of electric vehicle powertrains.

Going forward, the two companies will leverage Polaris’ leadership position in the global powersports industry to market a variety of electric vehicles using Brammo’s lithium-ion electric transmission technology. In the meantime, this will allow Brammo to continue developing its electric vehicle powertrains. Brammo supplies these products, including the Brammo Power battery pack and Brammo Power vehicle management systems, worldwide to a wide variety of OEMs. As part of this transaction, Polaris will use the acquired assets to begin manufacturing electric motorcycles in the second half of 2015 at its plant in Spirit Lake, IA.

“We have enjoyed our involvement with Brammo Motorcycles over the past three years, and our enthusiasm for their advanced lithium-ion electric drivetrain technology has grown with their improvements in cost and performance. Polaris and Brammo share a goal of adding the most advanced, high-performance electric solutions to Polaris’ powersports product portfolio, â€said Scott Wine, President and CEO of Polaris.

The deal allows both companies to be more agile during the development cycle with a clear responsibility for selling products that exemplify Polaris’ standard for delivering world-class vehicles.

Polaris has been a strategic investor and partner of Brammo since 2011. During this time, the companies have collaborated on a number of projects in motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and on-road.

“Today’s announcement not only reinforces Polaris’ commitment to providing lithium-ion electrical solutions to our consumers, but also the ability of this partnership to continue to innovate and develop power transmission technology of tip, â€Wine said. “We anticipate a return on these investments and believe the new alignment brings us much closer to providing world-class electrical solutions for all of our products. “

Considering Polaris’ stake in Victory and Indian Motorcycles, the experience, resources and capital that Polaris brings to the table can only be seen as positive in the e-bike landscape.

While we don’t know about Polaris’ long term plans with Brammo, a more immediate prediction is of Polaris / Brammo / Victory / Indian beating rival Harley-Davidson and Project Livewire to the punch of the electric motorcycle. Either way, Polaris is clearly positioning itself to become a major player in the e-bike / alternative energy game.

Klock Werks Kustom Cycles Saw Revenue Increase 650%

Motorcycle Business

Laura and Brian Klock at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah.

Crosswinds of 50 to 60 miles per hour can appear out of nowhere, even on a sunny day, and this is especially dangerous when trying to overtake a much larger vehicle, such as a semi-truck.

“A motorcycle has an elevator,†said Brian. “And the faster you go, the more it lifts, which creates a dangerous wobble.”

Klock Werks Kustom Cycles set out to resolve this issue.

Brian Klock started Klock Werks in 1997 as a one-car garage in the city of about 15,000 people. He offered motorcycle customization, which was a natural consequence of what he had been doing for years. In 2004, he and his wife Laura also began to design and sell their own pieces.

“It was a lot of buddy trading and sweat equity,†he said. “I was driving from Chicago to California to test an exhaust or other part; a magazine editor got wind of it, took a picture of the bike and put it on the cover. It has helped publicize our name. ”

Related: Hot Business to Start Now

Klock said he made a profit during those years, with annual sales of around $ 350,000, much of which was spent on developing new parts.

But it wasn’t until he created the Flare Windshield that the business really exploded.

Klock had the idea for a custom shield when he and his family were driving home from the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed ​​Trials in 2006. Laura had set records of 137 and 146 miles per hour on a Harley Davidson intended for the cruise. But even though the bike was customized for high speed, it wobbled when it hit around 125 miles per hour.

“On the way back I had my hand out the window, and it made me think, ‘How do we tilt the windshield so we can add downforce?’†Said Brian.

Upon his return to Mitchell, he began to design the prototype of a curved windshield, which would essentially act as a spoiler and prevent heaving.

“There had been a lot of crashes on those bikes at 80 or 90 miles per hour,†he said. “It was dangerous and the bike was basically floating.”

Related: Renaissance of America’s Dead Factories

With the materials they had in store, Klock designed the Flare Windshield, a curved polycarbonate shield that makes the front of the bike more aerodynamic and much more stable.

In December 2007, Klock introduced it to its biggest distributor, who thought they could sell 500 a year.

“I went in front of their fifty national sales reps and said ‘I’m going to sell 20,000,’” Klock said. “I had a year to prove it.

Six years later, the Flare Windshield – which sells for between $ 179 and $ 199 – is the best-selling part for Klock Werks, accounting for around 80% of the company’s revenue.

“We sold 18,500 in the first year,†Klock said. “We’ve caught the attention of every powersports magazine. And we’ve sold about 20,000 every year since.”

He said revenue had grown 650% since 2006. Sales have been strong even during the recent downturn: they made $ 2.5 million in sales in 2008, largely because of the Flare.

Related: The Craft Beer Craze Is Finally Hitting The South

What started out as a store with seven employees selling eight pieces now has 17 employees and 485 pieces. The boutique – and the Flare – has always been a family affair.

“This windshield is my baby,†said Laura Klock, who is in charge of marketing for the company. “And our philosophy is that people buy from people. That’s why we have a ‘try it before you buy’ guarantee.”

The Klocks and their daughters Erika, 23, and Karlee, 20, who also hold land speed records, regularly go to motorbike shows and races where they sell directly to customers, helping to install windshields. broken.

The Flare is made in Minnesota, and all of Klock Werks’ products except one are made in America. Klock emphasized how important it is for him to keep it that way.

“Everyone told me I couldn’t do it since Mitchell, SD,†Klock said. “Even though I distribute worldwide, I feel like it’s a moral obligation for me to do it at home and try to make someone else’s dream come true.”

CNNMoney (New York) First published on May 22, 2014: 7:03 AM ET

The most exotic January motorcycle sale in the world …

Motorcycle Sale
  • The Goldammer Experimental Motorcycle features a modified Honda CR250R frame

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Forget about discounted M&S underwear and cheap microwaves, check out these awesome specials about to be unloaded by the world’s best custom motorcycle builders.

Roger Goldammer’s superb Supercharged Nortorious cafe racer and experimental two-stroke 250 broke away from the monotonous, endless stream of American v-twin choppers using engines you never dreamed of.

The Nortorious used half of a Harley-style air-cooled twin to create a 965cc single. Just to make the single engine more interesting, a supercharger was put on the cylinder to give the bike 80 hp. The mental motor was then adapted to a frame design based on a 50 year old Norton, with drum brakes!

The Experimental is an earlier Goldammer project and uses fewer unique pieces, but the result was just as exceptional. A modified Honda CR250R frame contains a BRC two-stroke double parallel karting engine. The geometry is long and low, with a minimalist and unique bodywork. The finished bike was then timed at the Bonneville Salt Flats, reaching an impressive speed of 128 mph!

Roger Goldammer told MCN: “I am selling them because, well, I have in my possession all the bikes that I have built in the last five years… and too many invoices! “
Nortorious is on sale for £ 80,000 and Experimental is on sale with an asking price of £ 73,438.

Contact: 001 250 764 8002