"We Need To Save Motorcycling"

 

Honestly... if I read another such article as this one, I am going to:

 

A)   Puke

B)   Play a round of Russian roulette with 5 full chambers

C)   Go on a shooting spree with my Ultimate Toy water pistol

 

 

I've just clicked on the Bike Bandit Blog and read this headline.  Now before I get on my soap box, I want to go on record as saying, I like dealing with BB.  Over the years especially since I've had my AZ home, I have bought many things from them.  They are fast and proficient and rarely don't have an item in stock. 

 

I like reading their online newsletter and have found it to be informative.  Granted, this subject has been in my 'craw' for decades and I have seen the gradual decline in the industry and if not flogging a dead horse (no offence to horses, I'm an animal lover) it's certainly getting the crap beat outta him. 

 

read on...

 

We Need To Save “Motorcycling”                                             December 24 2017

 

_{I’m just reading another "We need to save motorcycling" headline.  This one in a popular Accessory supplier’s Blog.  In the last 5 years, this type of stating the obvious has been on every website, every blog, and every dealer/manufacturer newsletter. It never ceases to amaze me.}

 

_{If you gave this puzzle to a room full of third graders, they'd be able to figure out the math in no time. The age of the average motorcycle rider in NA is getting older... not younger.  I constantly hear, see dealers, industry, magazine articles on this truth happening but rarely do I see any type of constructive answer(s)}

 

_{I think back to the early 80's when I first came to the Island after a couple of years of prep with Four Season's in Ft Mac,  I had left a mgt job paying 2650/mo (a lot of dough then) to work at my friend's (John Metcalfe's) dealership for $500/mo, just what I needed to put food in the fridge.}

 

_{Even back then, at age 20 I recognized that the future for me at least, lay in involvement.  Hence the effort I put into becoming the youngest Chief Instructor ever.  At the same time I was working like the proverbial beaver to keep the McMurray Dirt Riders functioning, and eventually with my contacts at Keyano College, I was able to acquire on the clubs behalf, the old gun range on which Keyano took the better part of a week to build a racetrack, which I suspect is still operational.} 

 

_{Taking hard earned overtime money with me to PEI, I opened Freedom Cycle.  In the 10 years of existence of this shop, I with the help of several other individual enthusiasts turned it into a million plus dollar business, ultimately selling three major brands and causing a huge surge in popularity in riders, both men and women.  I've often told the story of, okay.... I'm just going to say it, Suzuki Canada in the mid 80's, turning down my co-op advertising featuring women (in riding gear not lingerie) because 'Women don't ride bikes'  My simple answer to them then, 'but they're gonna!'}

 

_{Today women make up 4 out of 10 new buyers.  I don't imagine that individual lasted long in the industry, which I might add, has often buried their heads so deep in the sand as to hear Cantonese from the other end.}

 

_{While at FCI we did fun runs, poker events, treasure hunts, built and supported MX racing, put on MC events as well as restarting the National MC training program on the Island.  I clearly remember Rob (Harrell) and I on any (February) Sunday down at the Waterfront mall with pylons set out on the pavement and riding YSR 50's around dodging the ice puddles!  The YSR racing program in Canada began right here at Burlington's 1/2 mile 10 turn go cart track and eventually resulted in racing on closed streets in downtown Moncton NB as well as Summerside PEI and across Canada.}

 

_{I called Bill Whittle's reference when he had applied to work at FCI at 26 (the same age I was when I began the company) I was told they would not recommend hiring him because he was too much of an independent thinker.  That was good enough for me!}

 

_{My entire career riding MC's has been about spreading the word, and did it ever spread.  Recently having moved back to the Island, I ran across a guy that happened to be working doing some paving for me.  As often happens I was recognized and we had a swell chat in between his work with the back hoe and my cutting the grass.  He said to me and I will quote as best I can... "Freedom Cycle created motorcycling on the Island", and if the truth were told, this was not the first time I'd heard that.}

 

_{We sold hundreds of XS 400's and GT 80's and LS 650's and Ninja's to make what would then have been the equivalent of a modern Mega dealership, and yet, we knew our stuff, were businesslike and professional, but everything we did was F_U_N for us.  Well, mostly everything.} 

 

_{If any of you remember back to the late 80's you may recall three young guys, that loved riding bikes, (Paul MacAusland lead singer for Haywire, and Rob Harrell), who after our first season racing YSR's, we rode all the way to T.O.}

 

_{That's 1400km folks and unknown to me, were introduced by Dwain McKeen, YMC's then National sales mgr, and were featured to kick off the 1990 dealer show.}

 

_{The theme behind riding 49cc "motorcycles" was simple... it stood for YOU SHOULD RIDE!}

 

_{Wanna change the numbers?  I'm fearful that it’s too late.  Making beginner bikes now may be too little too late.  And, if my visits to current dealerships including some here on the Island are any indication... the will is simply, "Not there."  Dealers that do nothing for the sport, personnel that if not joyful are not particularly enthusiastic and an industry of moto mags that cater to the few at the top of the $$ ladder, that report (and I use this term very loosely) only the baddest, meanest, fastest, most expensive model, who at the expense of the manufacturer are jetted all over the World to ride the latest while staying at the best hotels, eat in the best most expensive restaurants and somehow manage to produce reports that are barely believable and often end their road tests with something like...}

 

_{Pros: Massive power WSBK handling, stunning technology.}

_{Cons: The grips are too hard!}

 

_{Motorcycle journalism it ain't.  Brand endorsement, it be!}

 

_{At least I did my part, and continue doing it my way.}

 

 

       _{The good news... the days are already getting longer!!!}

 

PS  MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!  as for the NEW   YEAR...JUST NEVER MIND, and KEEP RIDING!