MILWAUKEE – Rumors of a takeover bid by a private equity firm caused shares of Harley-Davidson to climb dramatically on Friday, rising nearly 20 percent to close at $54.25. New York-based KKR & Co. is
Read More »Cycle Therapy For Kingston, NY Rider
FALLS VILLAGE, CT – Most riders have heard the phrase “You never see a motorcycle parked in front of a psychiatrist’s office,” which suggests that motorcycling is so therapeutic that it can supplant counseling. John Grant of Kingston, NY even describes riding his 2010 Royal Enfield as
Read More »Royal Enfield Unveils Himalayan
NEW DELHI, INDIA – As promised, and after weeks of teasing, Royal Enfield has unveiled its first-ever adventure and touring model – the Himalayan. Powered by a 411cc, single-cylinder, carbureted engine that puts out
Read More »Royal Enfield Teases Himalayan
The official launch won’t take place until Feb. 2, but Royal Enfield is now teasing its new Himalayan adventure model after months (or is it years?) of speculation over what it might look like. No word yet on when the India-made bike will be available or where. The company’s new …
Read More »If You Had Asked, I Would Have Told You…
A new month means another edition of thoughts and opinions issued under the not-so-subtle heading of “If you had asked, I would have told you…” – That work is progressing on the restoration of a 1948 Vincent “Series B” Rapide that Peter Kettle of Fitchburg, MA bought for a mere
Read More »Wrapping Up the IMS in NYC
NEW YORK – Has there ever been a time in motorcycling’s history when there has been such a huge variety of bikes available to riders? Sure, there were more manufacturers in
Read More »Big Changes for Royal Enfield, Dealers
Big changes loom for Royal Enfield and for the dealers that have sold the brand in the U.S. for the past 15 years. Effective Jan. 1, distribution of the 500cc motorcycles that are made in India will handled by
Read More »Oil Drippings: Harley, Ducati, Royal Enfield
Oil drippings: News and opinion… – This comes as no surprise: Out of Harley-Davidson’s 694 dealerships in the U.S. only a dozen are operated by minorities. The company wants that to change, though, as a dealer network and customer base of aging white men doesn’t have much long-term potential. “Automotive …
Read More »If You Had Asked, I Would Have Told You That…
Time for another installment of “If you had asked, I would have told you that…” – While I’m sympathetic to his suffering, if I’d have been on the Hartford Superior Court jury, I would have voted against awarding Connecticut rider Joseph Chaplin nearly $534,000 as a result of a crash that …
Read More »Oil Drippings: Hamlin, Royal Enfield, PA Show
Here goes with more Oil Drippings: News and Opinion as well as links to stories from elsewhere. – What gives with Hamlin Cycles in Bethel, CT? It opened last April and became a Moto Guzzi dealer more than three months ago, but its bare-bones, amateurish website gives the impression of an …
Read More »Two Top Royal Enfield Dealers In New England
FARIBAULT, MN – Classic Motorworks, the U.S. distributor of Royal Enfield motorcycles, is out with its Top 10 list of dealers in the country for 2014, and two are in New England. National Powersports Distributors in Pembroke, NH, ranked No. 5 in sales for the year, while Mark’s Motorsports in …
Read More »Royal Enfield Sells The Most Bikes
If you ask the average rider which company sells the most motorcycles, the probable answer would be “Harley-Davidson.” It was just a week ago that Harley-Davidson reported worldwide sales of 267,999 motorcycles in 2014, a 2.7 percent increase over 2013. However, “The Times of India” now reports that
Read More »National Powersports Adds Triumph
PEMBROKE, NH – The signage for Triumph hasn’t arrived yet, but bikes made by the British manufacturer have, signaling the addition of a second brand of new motorcycles at National Powersports Distributors at 319 Commerce Way. Triumph joins Royal Enfield (added in 2010) as the company, which began in 2002 as …
Read More »Royal Enfield Reduces MSRPs Of Bikes
By Bud Wilkinson In an effort to “reposition the brand,” Royal Enfield has dramatically dropped the MSRPs of its line of mid-sized motorcycles. The most expensive 2014 model is the new 535cc Continental GT cafe racer (pictured above). It will sell for $5,999, “much lower than industry observers expected,” the …
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