Pre-Ride Posts (November 9, 2011)

Enjoying some time before work in Richmond, got a weekend coming up in NC and looking forward to a ride over the weekend coming up. Forecast looks very good both with good temperatures, and sunshine for the period. I hope to catch a final look at fall color, its been very nice in North Carolina as well as in my "other home" of Virginia.
A few items have captured my eye in the last few days. For one, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council and for the second year in a row Kawasaki leads the Japanese Manufactures in US motorcycle Market Share with 15.38% of the market. Honda has 13.97%, Yamaha 13.035 and Suzuki 7.17. Harley of course is the biggest in the US as far as market share. Also of note is this is just motorcycles...the shares change when you toss in ATV's and scooters.
Not sure when I will get to see it (as Virginia does not have a Ducati dealership) so I guess it will be when I see someone ride one. Some years ago I rode out to the dealer in Charlotte to see the then brand new Ducati 1198, now that bike is being replaced by the all-new Ducati 1199 "Pinigale". The bike features a new design engine (still a v-twin, called a superquadro) a monocoque chasis, and by all accounts it will be an amazing motorcycle. I look forward to seeing one in the very near future.
There are not to this point a great many new models due to the economy, mostly they are improvements on old versions, but there are a few here and there. One neat improvement is a limited addition "Steve McQueen" version based on the bike he rode in the movie "The Great Escape". Though he did not make the jump, the bike jump over the fence is one of the great moments in "motorcycle movies". McQueen was a avid rider, and was a big part of the classic motorcycle documentary "On Any Sunday.  Just a bit over 1100 of the "McQueen Triumph" will be produced.
So hopefully will get a few fall photos on here. Leaves thanks to weekend photos from my friends who rode to the mountains of NC this weekend are pretty much changed up there, but its pretty colorful in both Richmond and in the Charlotte area. Get out and enjoy..I plan to for sure!