The Kneeslider

Doers Builders and Positive People

Huge Market but Tiny Sales – the Uphill Road for Harley Davidson in China

By

With all of the attention Harley has received setting up shop in China, seven dealers currently in place with plans for 28 by 2016, you would think, or at least hope, that Chinese riders would be running in and placing their orders. Well, not exactly. According to an article on Bloomberg.com, Harley sold 268 bikes in China last year. In the same time period, one large dealer in … [Read more...]

Polaris Indian Number 1 Rolls Out for Test and Quality Checks

By

The new combined Polaris Indian company rolled out their first bike at Spirit Lake, Iowa. The company says this unit will be used for extensive testing and evaluation. Regular production will begin on October 1st. Customers of the new Polaris owned Indian can feel confident the company will be around in the future which should contribute quite a bit to the growth of the … [Read more...]

Harley Davidson Penster Tilting Reverse Trike

By

Remember the drawings for the Harley Davidson Leaning Trike Patent we showed you way back in 2007? Well, the Harley Davidson Museum takes the wraps off of the real trikes (code name "Penster") behind those drawings. John Buttera, the legendary custom and race car builder, originally hailed from Wisconsin, and I guess he got to know some of the guys at Harley Davidson … [Read more...]

Harley Davidson Rocket Engines

By

You might remember the Vincent Picador, a Vincent motorcycle engine used in some WWII target drones and whose left over high performance parts are still prized by Vincent motorcycle builders today. Well, Vincent isn't the only motorcycle company that built engines for drones, it looks like Harley Davidson got in on the action more recently, only, Harley Davidson didn't slap a … [Read more...]

Ariel Motorcycles Coming Back?

By

Simon Saunders is bringing back the Ariel motorcycle, or, more accurately, launching a new motorcycle with the Ariel name. He brought us the now well known Ariel Atom as a track day car something like six or seven years ago. They've been thoroughly used and abused, especially those on the high end of the power offerings with 300hp or better in a 1300 pound car with a very basic … [Read more...]

Mo2or – User Generated Motorcycle Design

By

Steve Pritchard started a company called Mo2or (how do you pronounce that?), with the goal of creating a motorcycle based on rider input. You fill out a form on their website answering questions about what you consider your ideal bike, engine size, frame type, body, seat, etc. and after they gather input for a while, they'll begin the design phase and eventually produce a … [Read more...]