Mission Motors tweeted out something interesting just a moment ago, a link to a new website for Mission Motorcycles. Teasing there a photo of the Mission R, it would seem that the electric superbike that does competitive AMA Supersport lap times at Laguna Seca, is finally set to come to production. It seems we won’t know everything about the new Mission Motorcycles project until June 3rd, though we can speculate pretty accurately on what the A&R Bothan spy network has been telling us. Expect to see the Mission R electric superbike in street legal trim, honed even further than when we rode the machine back in August last year.
Stefan Pierer’s acquisition of Husqvarna continues to baffle me. You will note I say Pierer, and not KTM, bought Husqvarna, since the Austrian CEO used Pierer Industrie AG in the transaction as a means to help side-step European antitrust issues. After all, we can’t have Europe’s largest dirt bike manufacturer, nay largest total motorcycle manufacturer, gobbling up even more brands in the two-wheeled world. But, I digress. Developing three road bikes (Husqvarna Nuda 900, Husqvarna Strada 650, & Husqvarna Terra 650), with three more concepts waiting in the wings (Husqvarna Moab, Husqvarna Baja, & Husqvarna E-G0), it is with even more confusion that we learn that Pierer & Co. intend to kill the Husqvarna Nuda project and its other street siblings.
In case you missed the story last week, Kevin Schwantz is preparing to race in this year’s Suzuka 8-Hour endurance race. For the race, Schwantz will be riding on a team formed by Yukio Kagayama, who in addition to having raced in the MotoGP, World Superbike, and British Superbike Championships, is also a previous Suzuka 8-Hour winner with the Suzuki Endurance Race Team (also joining the three-rider team Noriyuki “Nitro” Haga). Releasing a Q&A about his team’s Suzuka 8-Hour entry, Kagayama-san walks us through how the team came together, what equipment the riders will use, and his outlook on the team’s competitiveness.
A single-cylinder hooligan-maker, the KTM 690 Duke is 330 lbs (curbside without fuel) and 67hp of two-wheeled fun, and we hope that the Austrians bring the KTM 690 Duke R our way as well. While we are on the topic of things missing from KTM’s American line-up, a decent supersport is painfully obvious, yet we can’t see the folks at KTM following the paths of other brands. That’s where our friend Luca Bar comes to mind with his latest concept: the KTM RC4. Using the KTM 690 Duke platform and its LC4 engine, Bar has designed a super-single full-fairing sport bike that takes the Austrian company’s “Ready to Race” DNA and applies it to an idea that is not all that disimilar to the Ducati Supermono.
When I sat down with Claudio Domenicali at the Ducati 1199 Panigale R launch, the now-CEO of Ducati Motor Holding was still just the General Manager of the Italian motorcycle company. Four weeks after our interview though, Gabriele del Torchio would leave Ducati for Alitalia; and Domenicali, a 21-year veteran of both the racing and production departments of Ducati, would take his place at the top of Italy’s most prestigious motorcycle brand. After reading our interview from Austin, Texas after the jump, I think you will agree too.
That Yamaha is working on a seamless gearbox is no secret, with Yamaha’s test riders currently racking up the kilometers around tracks in Japan. Recently, however, Spanish magazine SoloMoto published an article suggesting that Yamaha has already been using its new seamless gearbox since the beginning of the season. My own enquiries to check whether Yamaha was using a seamless gearbox or not always received the same answer: no, Yamaha is not using the seamless gearbox. To test this denial, I went out to the side of the track on Friday morning at Jerez to record the bikes as they went by.
After a very public father/son break-up between Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr., a steroid-ring scandal involving Paul Sr., and finally a bankruptcy proceeding, it appears that Orange County Choppers is the impossible to kill multi-headed hydra of doom that we all knew it was, as the custom chopper shop is once again headed to the small screen and recruiting some talent, on and off the show. Looking for “someone who will work alongside Paul Senior, running the shop and helping build some of the best custom motorcycles in the world,” OCC says it will be back on television with a new show later this month. Please for the love of god, will someone give this man the attention he craves so dearly??! Or, just shoot us in the face.
We love us some concept bikes here at Asphalt & Rubber, and we have featured more than a few pieces of stunning design and imagination on our pages. Though, we can’t remember the last time one of these works of art were brought to us by a legitimate racing team, but that is what we have here with the Team Alstare Superbike Concept. A nod to the former Suzuki team’s return to the World Superbike Championship as the Ducati factory squad with Carlos Checa and Ayrton Badovini, Alstare has enlisted the help of designer Serge Rusak of Rusak Kreaktive Designworks to ink the shape of its futuristic Superbike concept, while Tryptik Studios handled the 3D modeling prowess.
If you didn’t watch Thursday’s pre-event press conference for MotoGP at Jerez, it is worth a viewing right to the end (assuming you have a MotoGP.com account). Building off the news about the NBA’s Jason Collins coming out as gay in a self-written feature in Sport Illustrated, my good colleague David Emmett had the courage to inquire about the culture and acceptance of the MotoGP paddock for homosexual riders. For the sake of accuracy, after the jump is a full transcript of David’s question, as put to riders Cal Crutchlow, Jorge Lorenzo, Marc Marquez, Andrea Dovizioso, Stefan Bradl, and Scott Redding, as well as those riders’ responses to David’s inquiry.
News that Suzuki plans on returning to the MotoGP Championship in 2014 should be old information for dedicated Asphalt & Rubber readers, and the Japanese company’s inline-four race bike was already spotted doing test laps last year by the eager eyes at Cycle World. Well the American print-mag has another set of eyebrow-raising high-quality photos of the 2014 Suzuki GSV-R to mull over from the Motegi race track, along with some technical insights provided by the venerable Kevin Cameron.
Nice! Finally H-D does it right… Almost makes me want to go buy one so I can feel closer to Marrissa
More Harley Davidson stupid advertising. Why can’t HD just make a decent motorcycle and skip all the outlaw bullshit. I am so sick of loud harley davidson motorcycles and the morons who dress like the Village People who ride them just to show off there loud exhaust and do stupid shit like this commercial.
This is marketing to men, not women. And she could be strattling a toaster and we’d be saying “Kudos, Kitchenaid!”
Is it hot? Yes. Is it genius marketing? No.
There is not a commercial made that would get me interested in buying a Harley. Harley Davidson should be spending money trying to improve there aging line of bikes instead of making commercials.
Who the hell is Marissa Miller and why should any of us care if she’s in a Harley ad? Their marketing department is missing the boat (still) in that bike ads should be about bikes, not some pseudo-celebrity tart.
Say what you want, but I’m calling you a homosexual if you don’t like this ad. Call me immature or what have you, but, hey, it’s primal instinct to find this attractive! Props to H-D, both your advertising and your bikes!!!
Hahahaha, ohh you guys crack me up. This is as simple as marketing can get, but boy, oh boy, do i like it! ;)
-peter
only problem is… what bike?!
-peter
I suddenly feel the need to grab a handful of…wait for it…throttle.
Nice job, Harley. Finally an ad campaign I’d like to get behind.
Also, she’s much too cosmopolitan for most HD guys. Not enough junk in the trunk.
For the love of God, would someone please buy that girl a decent meal? And guess what: it’s STILL a Harley.
Marissa Miller Poses for Harley-Davidson – Future Ambassador to Woman Motorcyclists? – http://aspha.lt/10h #motorcycle
Heh, they did the burnout just off the pavement edge in the sandy dirt to get it to break loose…
@johnrdupree: Marissa Miller is the hot new thing in the modeling world. She was on the cover of Sport Illustrated’s Swim Suit Edition, and she is a Victoria Secret Angel
Yes, this is the same vein of “pretty girl on a bike” marketing, but the kicker is Miller actually rides. No one in the industry has really cracked how to bring the ladies into the industry in a meaningful way, and honestly it’s because no one has really made a concerted effort to appeal to them in a way that resonates with that demographic of buyer. Having someone like Marissa Miller be a spokesperson for Harley-Davidson could bridge the gap needed to breakdown the stereotypes of what a lady biker is (over-masculine), and show women that they can remain feminine and attractive while being on two wheels.
Over course it’s entirely possible HD marketing misses the opportunity they have here, uses this add like any-other pin-up, and continues it’s death spiral into the lower rings of hell…it really could go either way.
I am not even interested in watching the useless ad. There is nothing in the HD line of lead sleds that would interest me. I am interested in motorcycles company’s that are on the leading edge of technology not old school out dated motorcycles with stupid names.
@ Doctor Jelly: Yeah! I was thinking “photoshop” when I saw that photo too! Funny how she is EFFORTLESSLY holding that bike back…. And I mean EFFORTLESSLY! It doesn’t even look like her hand is actuating the brake…. oh but “she rides”……. puh-leeze. Just one more fail for HD…..
nice campaign! RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Marissa Miller Poses for Harley-Davidson – Future Ambassador to Woman Motorcyclists? http://aspha.lt/10h
Rather pathetic isn’t it . . . I mean the level of desperation ? BTW what happened to the KKR
story ? You could probably pick up close to $10/share selling the stock here. But use a stop above the recent highs.
And I am sorry Jensen, but the “opportunity” Marissa ! brings to this eludes me.
Weeks on now from the initial post on this I still see no change in trend.
Again, its over.
RIP
I haven’t heard anything more on KKR, there’d obviously be a post if I did.
The opportunity I see here is that 50% of the American population is automatically routed out of being the target audience for motorcycle ads. If OEM’s want to get women on bikes, they need to effectively communicate to women (not just women riders) about motorcycling, and start addressing the reason women in general don’t ride.
If a company can show women that they can retain their femininity and still ride a motorcycle, they’ll be taking one step closer to capturing that market. My point in this article was that Marissa Miller could be that bridge to that market, since she already hocks lady undergarments, and rides herself. The bonus too is that an ad campaign with her wouldn’t alienate the male market in the process, which is the trap that wait for marketers with this goal.
But yeah, does Harley-Davidson see it that way? I dunno, but they’ve read this post, and the choice is there’s.
Excuse me while I get “Harley Davidson” tatooed on my face…
Jensen,
I applaud your optimism and willingness to find a solution. History does not give much support however to the notion that women will take to motorcycling in any significant numbers. Haven’t scooter sales to this segment also disappointed ? So “50% of the American population” represents a base beyond real prospects.
I could be persuaded though that an expanded campaign (and I mean a large budget) featuring “regular” Harley gals mixing it up with celebrities might have potential. That complemented by dealer supported “Lady’s Ride” events, etc. could create something that might catch fire in specific markets. Seems like a long term investment.
Unfortunately the headwinds of Global economic weakness, a highly competitive leisure market and the natural life cycle (brand and demographic) seem most daunting.
A tough nut, indeed.
A kid can dream right Willie?
Harley marketing mistakes is a group project for my marketing course.This ad simply proves my point that HD has never attempted to gain a female client bass. If I were a lesbian
I may think this ad was aimed at me but real women do not consider super models as real people.
Although sex sells, HD has alienated average American females by sprawling women out all
over their bikes and then suggesting that the ad was for them. A little suggestion, put some really hot hunk in the Bitches Seat with his flesh glistening in the sun. That would be an ad for us ladies. It worked for Coca-Cola.
I am no lesbian, but call me vain, because I found this all exremely appealing ^^’