Michael Curry's blog
Harley-Davidson Q3 2010 income climbs as sales slip
Harley-Davidson's 3rd quarter 2010 financial results are in: income climbs as sales drop. Net income totaled $88.8 million, or 38 cents per share, which compares with income of $26.5 million, or 11 cents per share for the same period last year.
H-D reported a 7.7 percent decrease in motorcycle sales worldwide, including a 9.4 percent decrease in the U.S.
The company posted a net profit of 40 cents per share from continuing operations. Revenue fell 2 percent to $1.09 billion.
A peek behind the curtains: Helmet safety, advertising dollars and editorial policy
Risk of offense is the price of clarity
A fascinating look behind the scenes at Motorcyclist magazine describes Dexter Ford's firing from Motorcyclist, apparently as a result of his no-hold-barred expose of shortcomings in the Snell M2005 standard that, according to some experts, could result in greater injuries to riders.
Click here to continue...Buying a replacement motorcycle battery? Who made it, and how to make it last longer.
YUASA Motorcycle Battery
Here are a couple of resources that can help you choose a new motorcycle battery.
First, here's a Consumer Reports automotive battery article that says, in part:
Click here to continue...Most auto batteries are made by just three manufacturers, Delphi, Exide, and Johnson Controls Industries. Each makes batteries sold under several different brand names. Delphi makes ACDelco and some EverStart (Wal-Mart) models. Exide makes Champion, Exide, Napa, and some EverStart batteries. Johnson Controls makes Diehard (Sears), Duralast (AutoZone), Interstate, Kirkland (Costco), Motorcraft (Ford), and some EverStarts.
R.I.P. Buell Motorcycles -- Harley-Davidson to shut down Buell, divest MV Agusta
R.I.P. Buell
This is not a huge surprise given Harley-Davidson's financial situation, although it is bad news for enthusiasts. The new Buell models, especially the Buell 1125R and 1125CR models were kick-ass bikes and certainly worthy of consideration by many sport bike enthusiasts.
Click here to continue...The day I nearly lost my leg
It was 1980. It was late on a Summer Saturday afternoon. I was 20 years old, full of the dumbass fearlessness that so often accompanies youth. I was riding a 1969 Harley Shovelhead. I accelerated quickly from an intersection on a busy main drag, leaving the rest of the cars behind. I wasn't racing, but I was moving along faster than the rest of traffic. I wasn't wearing a helmet—this was long before California eliminated that choice.
Click here to continue...Flossie, the Castrol robotic motorcycle rider...
Flossie, the Castrol robotic motorcycle 'rider'...: Photo courtesy of and copyright by Castrol
The uber-techs at Castrol have been hard at work perfecting a bad-ass robotic test "rider". Well, it doesn't really ride, but it can sit atop the motorcycle and do all the throttle, clutch, and shift actions that a human rider does.
Among the many stated benefits:
- Flossie can be fitted onto any bike or scooter for testing on a chassis dynamometer.
- Flossie can act like a new rider, learning how to operate all the controls, gaining proficiency over time.
- Flossie will perform the same gear change or the same acceleration time after time.
- Flossie doesn't get tired or saddle sore
- Flossie doesn’t mind the excruciating noise of the bike in the chamber as its engine screams away
- Flossie doesn't worry about riding in extremes of temperature
- And, most importantly, Flossie is a safe rider
(Source: Castrol)
Of course, I think this is complete bull. Castrol engineers built Flossie because it was just a wickedly-cool looking 'bot!
Here's a short YouTube video showing Flossie in action and one of the techs giving background details...
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