From the category archives:

Motorcycle Builders

All motorcycle manufacturers must contend with changes in tastes & demographics (age, gender, location, etc.). For several years there has been a lot of talk about the increase in the average age of the Harley-Davidson buyer. The investment in the 2010 Street Glide Trike model seems to be in-line with that statistic, while [...]

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So, you want a really nice bike from one of the custom builders but you’re a little short in the checkbook. Maybe $25,000 is a bit out of your range, you might be able to swing $7000 or $8000, but, the bike you want isn’t available at that price, so what do you do except [...]

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Is there a motorcycle equivalent to the AC Cobra? Is there a motorcycle that has that unique combination of appearance and performance that it appeals to almost any enthusiast? It’s hard to think of one. In the automotive world, no matter the enthusiast’s particular interest, many car guys, if not all, will find an attraction [...]

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Decisions often have far reaching effects. When Buell crushed the Blast, it caused a bit of collateral damage to the Mac Motorcycles plan of basing their new bikes on the Buell sourced 500cc single. After retiring to the pub for a “what now?” session, the boys at Mac came up with some alternative ideas and [...]

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You know what a Yamaha R1 is all about, high power, cutting edge technology for the track and even though it’s not unusual for the custom guys to stretch the swingarms and mount 300 rear tires, it’s a track weapon, through and through. Well, suppose the track you have in mind is a one mile [...]

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Is a Good Enough Motorcycle Good Enough?

by Paul Crowe - "The Kneeslider" on 8/31/2009

in Motorcycle Builders, Motorcycle Business

An interesting article in Wired magazine about the “good enough” revolution got me thinking. Products with fewer features and less than top shelf performance combined with lower price can become very successful because they do everything the majority of the market wants or needs. My weekend was a good example.
Over the last few days, I [...]

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If you’re going to build a custom bike, why not build one that handles like a real motorcycle? Stellan Egeland certainly seems to think that way and he sent me a note about his new video. He came home from the World Championship the other day with his Harrier in tow and the very next [...]

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There’s been a lot of interest in converting 450cc dirt bikes into race bikes. The 450 singles are lightweight and inexpensive, making for a nice nimble entry level racer. But a question always pops up, why not a kit for the street?
Kurt Blankemeyer of Design Cycle Inc. is working on a conversion, too. He starts [...]

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