Posts Tagged ‘v-twin’

Motorcycle News: Baggers Racing at Laguna Seca???

Posted: August 18, 2020 in custom motorcycle, Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle racing
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upshift

Hitting Neutral ­– Harley on a new course – Harley Davidson Motorcycles changes course, again. Out with the old boss in with the new boss. Out with the old plan in with the new plan.

When the last Harley Davidson CEO was in charge, he put in place an ambitious plan of 100 new motorcycles in 10 years. 

The new guy thinks that is an overreach and ended the effort and has stating that 30% of new models will be cut. This is paired with a cut to production to “make them more exclusive”.

While the new streetfighter motorcycle looks like it may be on the cut list. Its engine sharing brother, the Pan America adventure bike, is coming out with the 2021 models.

The new guy also wants to drive up the parts and accessories business along with merchandise. 

My Take: Who is right? According to the board of directors, not the guy that got fired.  I thought trying to expand appeal by having different Harley Davidson motorcycles was an interesting idea.  Not sure where cutting production will help exclusivity when there are 1000’s of bikes on the used market.

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Upshift: The King of Baggers Race – MotoAmerica is adding a touch of the surreal to American motorcycle racing. Well maybe, in the age of COVID who knows.

If you always wanted to see American V-Twins race at Laguna Seca raceway, maybe this is the year.  Watching a mildly modified Harley Davidson Road or Street Glide swinging through the corkscrew is going to be bonkers at best.

The race is getting attention.  Drag Specialties is the King of Baggers sponsor. A bunch of accessory companies are getting in on the action, for example Saddlemen, the motorcycle seat and luggage maker, is sponsoring bike #87 in the race.

And Indian and S&S are teaming up to run a Indian Challenger as well.  It should dominate on the straights as it has more than a few cubic inches on the Harley’s.

Currently the race is schedule for October 23-25, but who knows if it will happen until it happens.

My take: OH HELL YEAH!

Motorcycle Racing… I am a fan now!

Posted: May 10, 2016 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle racing
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OK… the boys at Dawghouse Radio have made me a fan of motorcycle racing. 

A while back I wrote a post regarding how I was not a fan motorcycle racing and why I did not care for it.  That post got me an interview on the DawgHouse which led to a hosting spot.  My view on road racing began to change the more I began to pay attention to the racing in order to be better prepared for the podcast. 

It really started during the MOTOGP and World Superbike 2015 racing seasons.  There was a lot excitement all season long. Mark Marquez and Valentino Rossi feuding, Jorge Lorenzo working hard to be the champ was engrossing.  Combine that with World Superbikes Johnathan Rea’s utter domination of that series and the motorcycle racing world just pulled me in.    

Motorcycle racing also pulled my wife in as well.  The bug did not bite her for road supercrossracing but for Supercross and to a lesser extent Motocross.  She and I have sat on the couch and watched the 2016 Champ Ryan Dungey and the rest give it their all every weekend. This year Debbie and I have watched all of the Supercross events and have even discussed going to one next year.   

I still hold to some of my original thoughts about motorcycle racing in the US.  One of the reasons, I think, that Supercross is so popular is that all the spectators can see all (or almost all) the track at one time something you can’t do at motocross and road racing events.   

I also think a racing series limited to V-twins running on some of the NASCAR short track would take off in short amount of time. This would be a little reminiscent of the old board track days.  Harley, Indians, Victory, Star and all the others going at it on a short oval would be a lot of fun to watch.

Moto-AmericaIn addition to the MotoGP and World Superbike I have also been viewing MotoAmerica.  Even though I have only been watching for the last year, I can tell that a high level American series is really needed to help propel American racers to the world stage.  The racing on the American circuit has been fun to watch and I hope they will be able to expand their reach soon.   

So, twist the throttle, I am now a motorcycle racing fan