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If you are a motorcycle enthusiast, bike rider, and/or motorcycle owner, then you will welcome the new state law that makes it illegal to possess tools that allow bike thieves to bypass motorcycle ignitions.  The law specifically targets “pigtails,” which are really altered or secondary ignitions that allow bike thieves to be on the road with your motorcycle in less than 20 seconds.

According to the Regional Auto Theft Task Force, there were around 1100 motorcycles stolen in and around San Diego County alone during 2009, with insurance claims averaging just over $9000.  With one motorcycle stolen in the United States every 8 minutes, there is no question that there is a need for laws such as the one just enacted in California.

It is now a misdemeanor to possess the aforementioned theft devices, and violators will be subject to 6 months in jail and a fine of $1000.  This seems like a step in the right direction, and we will have to wait for next year’s statistics to see whether the law will put a dent on motorcycle theft.

In other motorcycle news:

Now that winter is upon us, many bike lovers and motorcycle riders have already stored their bikes.  There are, of course, those who are lucky enough to live in states where they can ride their motorcycles year-round.  However, Dunlop has plenty of tips for both, some of which are reprinted below:

• On a regular basis, check your tires all the way around. Rotate both tires completely and make sure there are no nails, or other objects penetrating the tire. If you find anything, do not ride until you have your motorcycle dealer inspect the tire and replace it if necessary.
• Check the tire sidewalls for signs of cracking and never use sidewall treatments or dressings, which can actually accelerate tire cracking.
• Checking tire pressure is the most important tire maintenance function you can perform. Maintaining the correct air pressure is crucial to the tires’ rolling efficiency, steering, grip, wear and load-carrying capabilities—for every 4 psi a tire is underinflated, you could lose up to 80 pounds of load-carrying capacity.
• You’re not only riding on your tires, you’re also riding on the air within them, so check cold air pressure as often as possible with a high-quality air-pressure gauge, and have it calibrated at least once a year.
• If you’re storing your motorcycle for the winter and/or if you’re storing spare tires, try to avoid frequent and varied extremes of temperature during storage. Do not keep tires next to radiators or sources of heat. Tires subjected to these conditions will age more quickly than those stored in a cool, constant environment.
• Do not store tires where electric motors are present; the high concentration of ozone will accelerate tire cracking.
• When buying new tires make sure you select tires that can carry your expected load, including the total weight of the motorcycle, the rider(s), luggage and any equipment. Always match front and rear tires.
• After installation of new tires, check to make sure the arrows on the sidewall are pointing in the correct direction of rotation, and that the balance dot on the tire is lined up with the valve stem.

You can go to the Dunlop website if you need more tire tips.

Harley-Davidson, the iconic American motorcycle builder and manufacturer, announced the first two motorcycles that are being produced in Harley’s factory in India.  It is no secret that motorcycle builders and manufacturers are trying to expand in what is becoming the world’s fastest-growing market for two-wheeled motor vehicles.

With a burgeoning population of over 1 billion people, India is an attractive market for the American icon, which had seen its sales stagnate over the last couple of years.  In order to boost overall sales, Harley is offering the SuperLow, which is priced at around $12,168 or 550,000 Rupees at yesterday’s exchange rates.  The other model, the Iron 883 pictured on the left, is available for about 650,000 Rupees, or about 14,380 dollars.

Although the motorcycles will be assembled in India, the parts will come from Harley-Davidson’s Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Missouri factories, as well as other part and component suppliers.  The unassembled kits from which the new models are put together will give Harley a wider profit margin due to a lower tax structure than the fully assembled units which it is now importing into India.

India is an extremely price-sensitive market, and producing the models in country will allow Harley to cut prices while boosting sales and profits.  Harley has been increasing its motorcycle sales totals outside the United States, and it is one of the reasons why the company has seen very healthy profit margins when compared to its performance during the recent years, which were truly times of economic upheaval.

Harley’s foreign sales increased to 27% of total sales for the July-September quarter, up a full three points from the 24% it posted during the same time the previous year.  Harley expects foreign sales to continue on the upswing, especially in India where it not only sells the two previously mentioned models, but also the Fat Boy, Road King, and Roadster motorcycles.

Although Harley has targeted rich urban bikers in India, the bulk of its motorcycle sales have come from rural areas since it began operations in India during August of 2009.  The majority of the motorcycle market in India is controlled by Hero Honda, owned, in part, by Honda Motor Co. (26%) and the Munjal business family (26%) from India. In fact, more than half of the country’s motorcycles are manufactured by the Hero Honda group, and rural areas account for nearly 40% of Honda sales.

Harley-Davidson Motorcycles has taken some very aggressive restructuring actions, and it has improved profits from its Harley-Davidson Financial Services section, which, together with foreign sales, has led to an increase of 66% in profits during the third quarter of this year.  However, revenues are down by 2%, due in part to the poor performance in retail sales of its American-made heavyweights.

It remains to be seen whether Harley’s aggressive restructuring and foreign motorcycle sales strategy will help the company survive despite the fact that its main American market continues to grow older.

As we mentioned to the motorcycle community on our blog dated October 12, the EICMA show is being held this year from November 2nd through the 7th.  After a 2009 which saw a serious decline in the motorcycle business, it seems that the industry may be rebounding if the list of vendors that will be attending the 68th International Motorcycle (and Bicycle) Show in Milan is used as an indicator.

The EICMA 2010 Motorcycle Trade Show will be welcoming back several major companies that did not show up for the 2009 presentation.  Among the most notable absentees from the 2009 motorcycle show was Yamaha, which made a recent announcement that it will be in attendance for this year’s edition of the motorcycle event.

If we take a close look at the market data, the true significance of the Italian show is evident since the country accounts for 56% of the production in Europe, 27% of the motorcycles, and a significant 25% market share.

EICMA has actually received a total of 2,400,000 visitors over the previous 5 years, including 250,000 motorcycle industry attendees, and over 80,000 trade visitors from abroad.

The Managing Director of the EICMA Trade Show, Costantino Ruggiero, showed great satisfaction with the major exhibitors who were present at EICMA 2009, and who have already confirmed their participation for the 2010 edition.

What is of greater importance to the show is that a number of companies that did not show up last year have made their intentions to attend the show known by applying for 2010. Manufacturers, makers, and exhibitors, including Ligier, Microcar, Nolan, Husaberg, Fuchs, and many others intend to be present.

It is especially significant that EICMA will welcome back Honda. The Japanese motorcycle manufacturer has shown an inclination toward making EICMA its European trade show of reference.

As the motorcycle industry continues to evolve, EICMA has continue to go along with the trends, and the very successful “The Green Planet,” which debuted in 2009, is being welcomed back.  ”The Green Planet” is billed as a show-within-a-show, and it is entirely dedicated to electric and hybrid bikes, vehicles and prototypes.

The United States Department of Commerce is going to host its official pavilion during the Milan show in order to try to improve trade relations.  In addition, there will be a new segment debuting for 2010 called Custom City.

This brand new exhibition shows how EICMA has learned to go along with the changing trends in international motorcycling.  The Milan show has now dedicated an area to custom motorcycle builders and their bikes.

Those who are planning to attend the show can expect Custom City to be a show-within-a-show, not unlike “Green Planet. Show producers are simply recognizing that there is a great upward trend in the world of custom motorcycles, and that this market segment accounts for 17.5% of the sales in the Italian market.

The custom category will not only feature custom motorcycle builds, it will also feature specialized accessories and fashions in the international venue so that visibility and impact are expanded.

The location of custom city will be in Pavilion 2 of Fiera Milano, which has also hosted Harley-Davidson, CR&S, Big Bear, Confederate, Headbanger, Gray Indian’s Collection and Zero Engineering.

Terre di Moto srl will be presenting the special section, and Bikers Life magazine will be providing full sponsorship.

In order to make things much easier for those who are planning to go to Milan for the show, EICMA has prepared a number of “all-inclusive packages.”

Suzuki V-Strom 650

I have always been a road only rider with an appetite for big sport touring bikes, mostly beemers. Some of the bikes I’ve had include the Kawasaki Concours, BMW K75S,  BMW K100RS,  BMW K1200LT, BMW R1150RT and the super fast BMW K1200GT… so as you can see dual sport hasn’t been my kind of thing.

Now that I just got a place in Rosarito (Baja California, Mexico) to relax in front of beach everything has changed! When it comes to exploring Baja and riding on bumpy Mexican roads, a dual purpose is the way to go. Even for crossing the border back to the US a dual sport motorcycle makes sense since their narrower profile makes it easy to ride in between lanes cutting the cross time from 3 to 0.1 hours.

After researching the available options here are the 4 candidates that made it to my shopping list:

Kawasaki KLR, Suzuki DL 1000 V-Storm, KTM 950 Adventurer and BMW R1200GS

I like big bikes, in my opinion they are more versatile and make me feel safer with better grip, more power and the ability to safely carry a passenger, that is why I focused on the so called “adventure tourers” (large dual-sports).  Smaller dual sport bikes although  more fun off the road and with better maneuverability they are not as well suited for longer trips.

When we first got the news at Motosites, we had to do a double, most of the staff had a slight frown, as if no one had really heard correctly.  Then the voice came across again, “Ducati is saying that they will be releasing a power cruiser.”

It was only a few short years ago that we first heard about Ducati playing around with a cruiser-prototype, but we all figured that the Italian bike maker would just go back to doing what it does best:  Build some of the baddest street rockets anywhere!

My first thought is that this had to be some other motorcycle maker with a similar name, or that somebody was joking around because Ducati, the builder of hair-raising, pulse-quickening, heart-thumping performance bikes, could not possibly be thinking about releasing anything that even comes remotely close to a power cruiser anytime soon.

However, we are only a few months away from the end of 2010, and Ducati is truly on the verge of releasing the Ducati Diavel, which in the Bolognese dialect means “devil.”  According to the motorcycle maker, a Ducati employee uttered, “Ignurànt comm’ al diavel!” upon first seeing the machine, which roughly translates to “Evil, like the evil.”

A Ducati that is not a super sportbike is something that is unheard of, especially since models like the Monster, Multistrada, Sport Classic and Hypermotard all had plenty of racing lineage before they were allowed to hit the streets.  However, although we are not 100% certain, the Diavel has never even sniffed a racetrack, and it is not likely to do so anytime soon.

Although Ducati has been very hesitant to classify its cruiser, the thinking is that the Italian motorcycle manufacturer is going after the market where Harley-Davidson’s liquid-cooled VRSC series, the Yamaha Vmax and Suzuki B-King rule the pavement.

There is also very little known as far as specs, but if they are going after the pavement pounder segment ruled by Harley, Yamaha and Suzuki, then it will have ABS, Ducati Racing Modes which will alter power output and delivery, along with Ducati Traction Control.  Moreover, we are certain that Ducati will come up with plenty of goodies.

Power will be delivered to the rear wheel by the Teststretta 11-degree engine, which is also in the Multistrada, and you can expect the Diavel to deliver a comfortable ride.  We have included an official teaser of the bike, as well as a spy shot taken not too long ago.

The bike isn’t expected to change much from now until it is officially released.  However, if you are already drooling and anxious about all of the details and specs, you are going to have to wait until the EICMA, or Milan International Motorcycle Show, which is set to take place from November 2nd to the 7th.

If you are the adventurous type, you can make your reservations and head out to Milan so that you can be among the first to get a look at the finished product.  If not, we will keep you posted, and we will give you all of the details right after the November show.