Belt Drive Betty's Blog

Electric and Hybrid Motorcycles - here is what we will be riding in the future...

Belt Drive 1 Canadian Riders, Motorcycle Community, Product Reviews 9:30 AM

Quiet motorcycles, low and no emissions. NO/LOW NOISE. 
 
This is the future of the motorcycle and whether we old dinosaurs embrace them or not, electric and hybrid motorcycles are here to stay, that is until the next advancement relegates them to the bone yard they way our machines will be. 
 
Out of the Tokyo Motorcycle Show comes the new Yamaha Hybrid preview: 
It won't matter how much you turn the sound up, you aren't going to hear much. 
But watch - it is impressive and informative and it IS our future. 
 
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I know a lot will scoff and make fun but just this week <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/10/lightning-electric-motorcycle-speed-record-166-mph-bonneville.php">a fully electric motorcycle set a land speed record at Bonneville.</a> 
 
I for one will miss the day when the rumble of a well tuned engine and pipe combination no longer fill the air when I am riding. I know that my ears will never get used the high pitch whine that these new breed of motorcycles produce. 
 
HOWEVER... 
Young people 20 years from now will look at the motorcycles we dinosaurs once rode and they will laugh and wonder how we could put up with them, the noise the lack of sophistication and engineering.  20 years from now when we are in old folks homes and using walkers, young motorcyclists will feel that way about us and our machines - we did with our parents machines and technology. 
 
Companies like Harley-Davidson, Victory and all of the British and Asian manufacturers will end up coming on line. Eventually they will have NO choice. 
 
As we move to protect our environment from both air and noise pollution, governments will start either offering such attractive incentives for these electric machines to become the norm that most manufacturers will be enticed to get rid of their loud gas engined relics and when that doesn't work the government will just create a law that will force them to. 
 
Get used to it - it's the way we are headed and no matter how much you balk at it, no matter how much you may hate it...you might as well embrace the new, quieter machines because no matter how much you fight it - they are here to stay. 
 
They are proving themselves at <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/366-contacts/2634-zero-mx-bests-quantya-takes-3rd-in-class-in-french-regional-races?directory=174">motor cross races</a>, the Salt Flats and at drag strips right around the world. The performance riders are loving the handling, the responsiveness and the speed and while there may be a lot of development and fine tuning to do to make them the norm - make no mistake... 
 
 
The future DOES NOT HOLD Loud pipes...as I and many others before me have predicted - loud pipes will be legislated out of existence and the only places you will find gas powered, loud piped motorcycles will be in museums and in parades bearing antique license plates and of course the garages of collectors world wide. 
 
Enjoy the safety of your loud pipes while you can - it won't be all that many years before they are gone - if not for good - for sure they will be the minority and the oddity. 
Our motorcycles of today, well, they will be the equivalent of the 72 Challenger 440 CID Six-Pack, balanced and blue printed machines that we drool over today but seldom see around much. 
 
 
If you are riding today, please...Ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you. 
 
 
Belt Drive Betty 
National VP AIM-Can 
<a href="http://www.aim-can.com/">www.aim-can.com</a> 
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a>

Electric and Hybrid Motorcycles - here is what we will be riding in the future...

Quiet motorcycles, low and no emissions. NO/LOW NOISE. This is the future of the motorcycle and whether we old dinosaurs embrace them or n...

Harley-Davidson gets SLAMMED & Victory is experiencing NO Victory...

Belt Drive 6 Community, Motorcycle Community, Product Reviews 6:43 AM

In a scathing article <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/304-businessindustry-news-american/2616-michael-vaughan-harley-davidson-gets-it-wrong?directory=207">Michael Vaughn of CTV News </a>denigrates the Harley-Davidson management team for their backward way of thinking and their lack of forward thinking. 
 
After reading his article, if I was a shareholder in H-D, I would be demanding resignations and looking for a new marketing team and a fresh approach to building and selling motorcycles. 
 
He cites the fact that H-D is planning on moving many of it's build facilities over seas and the fact that Harley Credit is hemorrhaging red ink as part of his questions of the "Genius" of the upper management. (MY question - isn't this the same company that back in the 80's asked the US government for tariffs on import motorcycles?) 
 
 
"Now that they've abandoned Buell sport bikes and the younger generation, what's Harley-Davidson's plan for the future? It looks like the iconic made-in-America brand intends to build motorcycles overseas. By 2014 more than 40 per cent of the company's sales will be outside the United States according to Harley executives. 
 
India is in Harley's plans where it believes the growing middle-class aspires to big, iconic American bikes. There's China and Eastern Europe too where Harley plans to market its heavyweight motorcycles with that outlaw image. Rather than change what they're doing, Harley plans to do the same thing they've always done but do it somewhere else." Says Vaughn 
 
Read the rest of what <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/304-businessindustry-news-american/2616-michael-vaughan-harley-davidson-gets-it-wrong?directory=207">Mr. Vaughn has to say </a>- you might find it enlightening. 
 
I too, have some thoughts about Harley-Davidson, their lack of regard for their customer as a corporation, their lack of common sense when it comes to attracting new riders to their brand and the elitist attitude that really doesn't serve them or the motorcycle community very well. But I'll keep most of it to myself. (And yes - I ride a Harley) 
 
Then <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/303-businessindustry-news-canada/2613-not-what-youd-call-a-victory-?directory=207">CMG ONline has some harsh words </a>for Polaris and their Victory line up of motorcycles! 
As part of their reduction of costs, Victory has slowed production of their motorcycles in an effort to help dealers clear their show room floors - new motorcycle sales of the Victory brand were down by over 50%. 
Says CMG Online: Sales of parts, garments, and accessories were down only 11 per cent, representing the best sales performance of the entire company line. Expect to see more T-shirts and fewer motorcycles at Victory stores.  
 
The Hells Angels are in the news again. 
 
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/359-contacts/2615-alleged-hells-angels-boss-wins-retrial">Manitoba's Court of Appeal </a>has ordered a new trial in the case of Ernie Dew, the alleged former president of the Manitoba Hells Angels. 
 
In other news, the Peace Country Chapter of AIM-Can is holding a Fall Social tonight with a free buffet dinner and entertainment - to get in for free all you have to do is show your AIM-Can card or your class 6 motorcycle license at the door! Where? BJ's Q Club - Grande Prairie AB at 6:30 with dinner at 7pm. Hope to see you out there! 
 
The comments below are from my Facebook page.... 
 
If you are fortunate enough to be riding today, PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you. 
 
Belt Drive Betty 
National VP AIM-Can 
<a href="http://www.aim-can.com/">www.aim-can.com</a> 
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a>

Harley-Davidson gets SLAMMED & Victory is experiencing NO Victory...

In a scathing article Michael Vaughn of CTV News denigrates the Harley-Davidson management team for their backward way of thinking and their...

More really surprising news...this time out of BC

Belt Drive 0 BC, Community, In the News 5:44 AM

The news is really a mixed bag again... the BC Safety Council has closed its doors. After having operated for close to 65 years the non profit organization that provided motorcycle training amongst other types of training has folded. 
 
The economy has been cited as the reason for the closure. 
 
Mike Cole may get to do his winter ride - there is a core group of people working on sponsorships for him that have raised almost $6K - Way to go volunteers! 
 
In Spruce Grove a rider who was speeding crashed and was airlifted by STARS. 
 
166 MPH, that's the new land speed record for <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/index.php/component/content/article/286-news-international-/2604-new-worlds-fastest-electric-motorcycle">electric motorcycles</a>! 
Lightning Motorcycles - they achieved a top speed of 267! 
 
As I said a real mixed bag today! 
 
If you live in the GP area, I hope you will join us for our AIM-Can Social tomorrow at BJ's Q Club - come have a great meal - Free. Show your AIM-Can card OR your Class 6 MC License to get in free. 
 
If you are riding today - PLEASE ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you. 
 
Belt Drive Betty 
National VP AIM-Can 
<a href="http://www.aim-can.com/">www.aim-can.com</a> 
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a>

More really surprising news...this time out of BC

The news is really a mixed bag again... the BC Safety Council has closed its doors. After having operated for close to 65 years the non prof...

Tough sledding out there....

Belt Drive 0 Canadian Riders, Motorcycle Community 5:53 AM

Mike Cole's Winter Ride for Diabetes may not happen this year after all. 
 
It appears that sponsorship is getting tougher and tougher to obtain. 
 
Last year Mike funded the bulk of the ride by himself to the tune of $45K 
This year's ride is estimated to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $60K 
He didn't win the lottery yet so - he's thinking he might have to wait and start planning 2011 and make the ride every second year. 
 
I wonder how many events in 2010 will experience the same fate - A lack of sponsorship? 
 
The Canadian economy is shaky, the Canadian dollar is high, businesses here are tightening their belts.... too many of the people I talk to are buying their stuff south of the border - our businesses here are suffering and If this keeps up January could be a pretty bleak month - Christmas is less than 8 weeks away and if it isn't a good one for retailers.... 
 
I can not stress enough how important it is to support those who support you. 
 
Belt Drive Betty 
National VP AIM-Can 
<a href="http://www.aim-can.com/">www.aim-can.com</a> 
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a>

Tough sledding out there....

Mike Cole's Winter Ride for Diabetes may not happen this year after all. It appears that sponsorship is getting tougher and tougher to...

The Strong Loonie and its effect on YOU

Belt Drive 4 Canadian Riders, Community 7:39 AM

Well - here we go again - the Loonie is strong and that means Canadians are going to start propping up the US economy again by buying vehicles, motorcycles, parts and clothing south of the border. 
 
What that means for Canadian retailers is another dismal Christmas, another round of lay offs and more businesses parring back and trying to keep the lights on and the doors open or closing. More job losses, more poverty - more abysmal economic climate - here in Canada. 
 
YOU - the Canadian consumer are in control. YOU can change that. 
 
I want you to think about something before you buy parts or anything else for that matter south of the border. 
 
You know that little business that donates to your chapter's events or your favorite bike rally - how often do you shop with them? Have you considered the fact that if you don't buy something from them, don't support them - they might not be around to support you - your community - your event? Try getting that American Company you support to donate to your event here in Canada - good luck with that! 
 
If you want good deals, ask your local shop first - many businesses are trying to work deals with their suppliers. 
 
Customer service in this country needs to improve drastically - I get that, but when is the last time you went to a store owner and told them about your bad experience with their employee? Or, did you do like most people - whine, snivel, complain to anyone who would listen?  You see when you don't tell the manager or owner - well, they can't fix what they don't know is broken. 
 
YOU - the consumer - are in the driver's seat - but are you actually utilizing that fact here at home or are you just taking your business south of the border? 
 
When our rider owned, rider specific and rider friendly businesses are shutting their doors in droves - will you have the right to be legitimately upset?  
 
I know many people that I will consider responsible for their demise because they never shop locally - they always go for the deal, south of the border. They never insist on good customer service, they only complain. 
And they are the first to complain when there are no businesses in their own community that support riders.  Whose fault is it that that little leather shop closed up? 
Whose fault is it that the aftermarket shop isn't there any longer?  
 
Whose fault is it that the little community newspaper you relied on for news and event information isn't there any more? 
Without advertisers the Knuckle won't be around - without advertisers the BDB Club Savings card isn't going to do you much good. 
 
Without the advertisers/sponsors, there are no small events, web sites - the ramifications of shopping south of the border are far deeper and have a longer reach than you might think! 
 
If you aren't going to shop locally - locally won't be there as an option. 
Remember that the next time you are on Ebay. 
 
The Busted Knuckle needs more subscribers to keep going (Many advertisers just aren't spending money advertising, they have this defeatists attitude - why advertise, they aren't going to give me a shot anyway) - But many of you riders who read the paper say money is too tight to spend 20 or 50 dollars supporting us - because your on 4 day weeks now and loosing 20% of your wage - HMMM - I wonder why? 
 
Could it be that Canadians are buying the products or goods your Canadian employer sells - south of the border? 
 
Probably! 
 
Use it or loose it has never been a more appropriate saying - If you want the Knuckle to be around next season to promote your events and provide you with good events calendars I need you to do one of four things: 
1: Buy a subscription 
2: Volunteer to work on the events calendars  - I can't pay people if no money is coming in 
OR 
3: Support one of the businesses that supports us - it really is that simple - 
USE IT OR LOOSE IT. 
4: Get active on our web site - click on the ads - nothing awful will happen to you or your computer - 907% of our advertisers and affiliate programs are Canadian. Submit a story, comment on an article. <a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a> was built for you. 
 
If you are lucky enough to be riding today - PLEASE, ride like everyone around you is blind and can not see you. 
 
Belt Drive Betty 
National VP AIM-Can 
<a href="http://www.aim-can.com/">www.aim-can.com</a> 
<a href="http://www.beltdrivebetty.com/">www.beltdrivebetty.com</a>

The Strong Loonie and its effect on YOU

Well - here we go again - the Loonie is strong and that means Canadians are going to start propping up the US economy again by buying vehicl...