Ride CT & Ride New England Serving New England, NYC and The Hudson Valley!
Every question needs an answer. If you had asked, I would have told you that…
– Harley-Davidson has not one but two flops on its hands with the smaller Street 750 and Street 500 models. We’re talking “Gigli” proportion flops. I’ve yet to see one on the road, dealers don’t seem to be backing them or stocking them, and the demand is nil. A future collectible?
– The General Assembly in Connecticut might actually pass an “autocycle” bill this session, which will allow the sale of Polaris’ Slingshot in the state. The Senate yesterday approved the bill by a 34-0 margin. It now goes to House. Slingshot sales just might be legal on July 1, provided the governor signs. The big problem for dealers then will be getting product.
– Triumph isn’t making an friends in the dealer community through its recent strident demands. Echoing the sentiments of others, one dealer tells RIDE-CT & RIDE-NewEngland, “Triumph are dicks to work with.” What goes around comes around.
– Nothing has been announced publicly, but I hear that Victory has a new engine platform on the way that will be smaller than the 106 cubic inch (1,731cc) motor used in its heavyweight cruiser line. Does this mean a smaller cruiser OR a shift into sport bikes. Given the company’s recent teasers for race machines (gas-powered for Pikes Peak and electric for the Isle of Man TT), I’d say a sport-bike future for Polaris-owned Victory is imminent.
– Polaris seriously underestimated the demand for its new Indian motorcycles, especially the affordable Scout? Or maybe the company realized that there would be demand and was powerless to meet it.
– Zero motorcycles now plans to bring its electric products to Italy. That’s fine, but how about more than one dealer in New England?
– As much as I admire Ken Kaplan’s enthusiasm and passion in creating the New England Motorcycle Museum in Rockville, CT, I don’t see much demand for another such museum and am fearful that it will be short-lived after opening in the fall.
– I’m sick of the same old stock photos of new motorcycles showing in social media (even as some are used here). The shelf life of promotional images is shortened these days by the fact they are ubiquitous. Bike builders need to stockpile more shots than ever before.
– When it comes to promoting its products and developing a sound dealer network, Moto Guzzi lacks basic skills. The new V7 II is now supposedly rolling out in the U.S. but has the company told anyone? Nope.
– The advice I received more than a decade ago still applies to new riders. For a first bike, buy used and buy small, get some experience and then trade up.
– If you’ve made it this far, you deserve to celebrate by going for a ride!
“The new V7 II is now supposedly rolling out in the U.S. but has the company told anyone?” I can verify that they’re here. I picked up my V7II Stone at Razee a week ago Friday (May 8). I’m having a ball with it. They’ve recently been added to the Moto Guzzi USA web site, but they sure aren’t being promoted.