The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Aermacchi Motorcycles

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Aermacchi isn't a name you see very often these days unless you spend your time at vintage race events but Aermacchi motorcycles are some of the sweetest looking little machines around. Aermacchi made and still makes aircraft over in Italy. Back around 1950, they got into the motorcycle business and started building small displacement motorcycles, somewhere in the 50cc to 350cc … [Read more...]

Motorcycle Design for Baby Boomer Riders

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How should motorcycles adapt for aging riders? If you've been on the road since the 60's or 70's, you, ahem, ... we, might begin looking for a few things on our bikes the twenty something rider wouldn't think about. There was an interesting article yesterday on how the automotive industry is changing as it recognizes the increasing number of older drivers. Brighter and … [Read more...]

Hybrid Motorcycles are not necessary – part 2

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So, Yamaha wants a hybrid motorcycle before the end of the decade. Can someone explain why? When Yamaha president Takashi Kajikawa said that was one of his goals for the company, it had me scratching my head. A couple months ago I said there was no need for hybrid motorcycles (right before the Gen-Ryu appeared) and I'll say it again. Motorcycles already get great mileage and … [Read more...]

Yamaha targets hybrid motorcycle by decade end

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Yamaha president, Takashi Kajikawa, is pushing for a hybrid motorcycle (possibly like their concept, Gen-Ryu?) by the end of the decade. This was just one of the interesting comments he made in an interview with The Times Online. Kajikawa noted that Yamaha faces a declining motorcycle market in Japan, even though it is growing everywhere else, and in the face of that domestic … [Read more...]

Confederate Motorcycles moves to Birmingham, Alabama

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After Hurricane Katrina destroyed their New Orleans factory, Confederate Motorcycles was on the lookout for a new location to set up shop. Birmingham, Alabama is where Confederate will rebuild again. Birmingham is also the location of Barber Motorsports Park and Museum, a factor in their decision to relocate. The company further solidified its commitment to the Magic City … [Read more...]

Online motorcycle sales improve motorcycle quality

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Ebay Motors makes motorcycles better! How do they do that? Think about it. When you stroll into your local dealer looking at all of the jazzy new models, you consider everything, how it looks, how it handles, horsepower, speed, you know, all of the important things that get your juices flowing. Then you look at the price tag and wonder if your wallet can handle it. But it's not … [Read more...]