Killing some time a few days before I get some riding in (weather permitting) back home in a few days. In the meantime, have been looking at some motorcycle news; and found a few things of note this week. Photo at right is of my friend Steve's Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic, which he rode on during our ride (I ride a Kawasaki Vulcan) to the mountains of North Carolina on Monday October 26 (featured on my previous post below). That ride was a great ride, and probably the best and longest of the rest of the year; covering right around 246 miles that day.
Harley is having (as are most if not all) of the motorcycle manufacturers, though a good selection of new bikes coming out this year (and I hope to be showing some more of them soon over the winter months coming up). Harley reported its sales for the 3rd quarter of 09 down 21.3% from the same period of 08. They also announced that they would be ending production of Buell Motorcycles (built since 1983) and would be selling the Italian firm of MV Agusta (purchased by HD in 2008). Harley is not alone as noted in their troubles; believe sales are down all over in this economy.
Wanted to note that the 7th Annual Arzie Rogers Toy Run (sponsored by Speedway Harley-Davidson of Concord, NC) will be held on Sunday November 22, 2009. Information on the ride can be found in the Customer Corner of the Speedway Harley-Davidson web site, ride cost is one unwrapped toy, lunch will be provided, and the ride starts forming up around 10am at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium in Kannapolis, NC. Due to the "Richmond thing" I will not be able to go this year, but did make the ride last year, and had a great time. Its a huge ride in the numbers of bikers, and also covers some of the best roads in Cabarrus and Rowan Counties. The ride ends at Speedway HD; make it if you can (and tell them I sent ya!).
I enjoy motorcycle racing (watching it, not doing it) and noted that Valentino Rossi won his 9th MotoGP championship this year; "The Doctor" as he is known is one of the legends of motorcycle racing, and still going strong. Ben Spies won the World Superbike Championship....both Spies and Rossi both won racing Yamaha motorcycles. Yamaha has a long history of success in motorcycle road racing, and continues to add to their long list of wins and titles.
As for me, looking forward to getting in at least a short bit of riding soon with an upcoming trip back home for a few days. Love this time of year and the Charlotte area should be full of color from the trees, and its a great time to ride with cool temperatures as well. There will be a lot of fall rides and toy runs in the Carolinas over the next few weeks; get out and enjoy some of them if you can!
After the big mountain ride on my last trip (see previous posts) to Blowing Rock, NC this trip home rode a bit less distance (to say the least) sticking close to Concord, NC. Wanted to see how the bike rode after almost falling over at the end of the last ride, but its fine.....just a bit of a cosmetic thing, but no real damage. Took a November 8 ride to Concord Regional Airport which was fun; like to check out the airplanes, and a ride down some local backroads in a 90 minute ride. It was a fantastic day, with sunny cloudless skies, and temperature close to 70 degrees. Not a long ride, but sure felt great to be "back in the saddle again" after a long two week pause.
On Monday November 9, I went to Speedway Harley-Davidson which is where I took these two photos to the left. Those are a couple of new 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycles. I wanted to go by RideNow to see some of the new Japanese/Victory bikes they sell but they are on "fall hours" (closed on Sunday and Monday) so that will have to wait for one of my future rides. Monday was also a very good day, but did cloud up quite a bit due to an approaching tropical storm (which I am told really hammered Concord rain wise on Tuesday morning). I just missed that on my drive back to Richmond today in the car. It was great to see my family, and got in a longer ride on Monday; so some good motorcycling on this visit. I always say it is better to get a short ride in than none at all; in my case, had two good ones. Looking forward to the next visit and the next rides in the Carolinas.
