If You Had Asked Me…

Even with an extra day in the month, February flew by. Maybe it was because it was so warm that we got to ride our motorcycles instead of having to chill inside and suffer from PMS (parked motorcycle syndrome). The start of a new month means a fresh edition of “If You Had Asked Me, I Would Have Told You…”

For example, if you had asked me, I would have told you…

– That I’m really not expecting that much when Indian announces a new model on Wednesday. All the hints suggest that it will be named “Springfield” and that it will be a heavyweight tourer that uses the company’s Thunder Stroke 111 engine.

Nothing wrong with that. Harley-Davidson has a full array of touring cruisers, and there’s no reason why Indian can’t add another to join the Chieftain (with hard bags) and Chief Vintage (with soft saddle bags).

I’m just still waiting for a Sport Scout model.

– That the selection of the beIn SPORTS network by promoter Dorna Sports to carry all the live two-wheeled MotoGP and WSB racing action this year across the U.S. and Canada basically hides that action from public consumption. Few folks receive beIn when compared to the ESPN networks and the sports networks of FOX, NBS and CBS. Heck, few viewers have even heard of beIn. Wasn’t a beIn a gathering of hippies back in the days of flower power? Then again, does anyone in North America really care about superbike racing?

Meanwhile, asphaltandrubber.com is reporting that the Supreme Court in Spain has imposed multi-million dollar fines on Dorna Sports and its executives for avoiding paying income taxes and for receiving undeclared dividends. I don’t think that beIn televised those proceedings.

If you had asked me, I would have told you…

– That Triumph is out with an updated Tiger Sport model for 2016 that uses a “next generation” 1,050cc triple engine “with increased torque and improved fuel consumption.” It also has traction control,  cruise control and ABS standard. Unfortunately, it won’t be sold in the U.S.

– That MotorcycleUSA.com announcing on Friday that it was closing and laying off an editorial staff of at least nine members wasn’t a surprise. I fully expect motorcycle magazines to start shutting down as well. Why? They’re all the same and all so milquetoast.

Fearful of jeopardizing ad dollars, most websites and magazines offer vanilla content that most often shrieks “advertorial” instead of editorial, a turnoff to any knowledgeable reader.

Motorcycle USA posted a story about its demise, saying the website will remain active “for an extended period of time” to allow readers to access archived material.

– That while the revival of EBR (again) is a feel-good twist to the brand’s saga, lining up dealers to sell the sport bikes will be difficult, if not impossible.

– That someone needs to tell MotoFIT, the multi-brand dealership in Danbury, CT, to take a look at the calendar. The Home page of its website is still proclaiming “Lean Into 2015 With Ducati – Special Offers for Spring.” It also touts a Monster 821 financing program that runs “May 14, 2015 t0 June 30, 2015.”

Attention to detail can inspire consumer confidence. Being sloppy with something as visible as a website can make potential customers wonder if that’s the way the rest of the business is operated.

– That after being revived last year, the downtown motorcycle show in Torrington, CT known as Torrington Thunder won’t be staged this year.

Until next time…