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Akio Hamada, CEO of Honda of America, announced this morning that Honda America Manufacturing will cease production of motorcycles at its Marysville, OH plant in 2009. All motorcycle production will be moved to a new facility in Kumamoto, Japan. “This move allows us to improve the competitiveness and appeal of our products,” said Hamada.

The Marysville facility was Honda’s first U.S. production facility and has produced more than 2 million motorcycles and ATV’s since 1979. It is the only facility in the world to produce the Gold Wing and VTX models. The facility employs 600 workers who, according to Hamada, will be reassigned to other area Honda facilities.

Well …… once again Hagasan proves why he’ll probably never win a championship. During the first round of World Superbike, held this past weekend in Qatar, the veteran Noriuki made a rookie mistake.

In the opening laps, Haga who was running in second place right on the tail of his teammate Troy Corser, was aggressively passed by Max Biaggi. The pass was completely legit and without incident. But, the Sterilgarda Ducati rider’s move caused Nori to have to “check-up”. This infuriated Haga so much that he decided to take his left (clutch) hand off the bar to give Biaggi the one-finger salute.

Almost immediately upon raising his arm, Haga’s right hand (throttle) moved just enough to cause the rear-end of his bike to break

If there is one thing that is consistent in my life, it is that I will forever be adjusting my motorcycle stable.  Variety is supposed to be the spice of life.  I don’t know about that, but it is definitely the spice of motorcycle ownership.  The shuffle is happening again, but this time its on the dirt bike side. 

After much consideration and several rides, I am selling both of my dirt bikes.  I currently have a 2000 YZ426f (four-stroke) and a 2005 YZ250T (two-stroke).  I like both bikes in different applications but they must be ridden very differently to enjot them at speed.  Heh - the truth is that I am simply not talented enough to manage two completely different riding styles in

Just curious as to how many people here have dirt bikes, where do you ride, and what kind of terrain do you prefer…

My current stable has an ‘05 YZ250 and a ‘00 YZ426f. I’ve been riding the dirt bikes every weekend and its almost replaced all my need to ride on the street. I like the tight technical single tracks the most out here in the AZ mountains…great workout. I may sell both bikes to upgrade to an 06-07 YZ450f. Decisions, Decisions.

Oh yeah, and no friggin cop is going to jump out behind a cactus with a radar gun.

“Be there from 1 to 3 p.m.”                          Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  The Govanator

The 24th Annual Antique and Classic Motorcycle Show and Swap Meet will be held on Sunday,

16 March 2008 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium - 552 N. 40th Street,

Phoenix, Arizona.  Registration begins at 0800 and ends at 1100.  Entry fee:  $15.00 per bike

(discount for multiple bike entries); Swap Spaces (8′x 18′)are $25.00.  Parking fee $5.00 for

cars/trucks; bikes are free.  For more information - email: dhogan@sprynet.com or call

Mike (602)841-6064, or Karen (623) 849-3049.

Skid Lid

Please stop soliciting me to enlarge my penis.  First of all, my spam-blockers work very well and they never get through.  Second, you are starting to give me a complex through the power of suggestion.

Whenever I travel, I try to find a way to enjoy some two-wheeled activity. Whether I beg, borrow or rent, procuring some saddle time is always a priority. On my latest trip back to the Old Dominion (that’s Virginia for those not not familiar with state nicknames), I scored a ride on a bike older than my own riding career. My sister’s recent interest in learning to ride, lead her frugal husband to the acquisition of some classic iron.

The ’77 Honda I rode was very similar to the ’69 original that took the world by storm, catapulting the Japanese motorcycle industry in general, and Honda specifically, to the forefront worldwide. A position they’ve yet to relinquish for more than 40

…err positioning oneself to avoid as much tax as possible.  I knew I like Rossi for many reasons, now I just added another.  He did what many Americans do.  That is, to pick a state within your country that has the most advantageous tax positions for which to live.  Think Florida for its lack of State tax.  Old people love it anyway.

Check it…
ROME, Italy — Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi has reached an agreement with the Italian tax authorities and will hand over 19 million euros ($27.6 million) in unpaid tax for the years 2001-2004, Ansa reported.

Rossi will move from London and return to live in Rome after agreeing a deal with the Italian tax authorities.

The figure could rise

I scored another test ride. While on a business trip in Newport News, Virginia, I located a nearby Moto Guzzi dealership. I was looking for one in this neck of the woods because in Utah they’re pretty scarce, OK, non-existent. The one I found was in Williamsburg, Steelhorse Classics, and was about 15 miles from my hotel.  

http://steelhorseclassics.com/ 

Since it was on the way to my weekend destination on Saturday, I decided to stop by for a look-see. I’d been trying to find a particular Guzzi shirt, so I called to inquire about in-stock apparel. After discovering they did indeed have a few items, I mentioned my interest in taking a test ride. My past experience with getting test

This past Friday night I finished installing a Rekluse z-Start on my 2000 YZ426f.  I got it used off of ebay a couple of months ago and finally got off my butt and installed it.  Well, its not due to laziness its just that the 426 has been sitting idle while I have been enjoying my YZ250 two-smoke.  (Is it self-indulging to link to yourself…kind of like using your proper name in the third person?)

The installation was not too bad.  Its a little intimidating since there are a lot of parts in total, but the instructions are online and they are straight forward.  The only trouble I had was the number of times I had to exchange the