SYNOPSIS: The Crosscage concept bike is a fuel cell motorcycle designed to achieve optimum performance using Intelligent Energy’s air-cooled fuel cell system. Photo credit: Bill Moore, EV World.Com.
Green transportation is coming whether we think its necessary or not. Let’s face it, there is a mrket for these machines if they are viable for mass production. A Suzuki partnership does give it hope, unlike these small private ventures that simply ‘have a dream’.
Some quick questions I have:
- What is the top speed (highway worthy or city commuter only)?
- What is the range?
- What is the distance per dollar travelled?
- Where are the fuel stations?
- Will it use the Suzuki deaker network?
- Where is the wind protection?
- Can I get neon lights and other shizzle for it?
- What the hell am I doing on evworld.com?
Some people will be willing to shell out the cash simply because they want to make a statement. Others (like me) won’t touch it if there isn’t a positive impact to the wallet in terms of savings independent of emissions. Even though most of the greenies are kooks and smell like the French, I think this techie stuff is pretty cool.
]]>Suzuki, Intelligent Energy Develop Fuel Cell Motorcycle
Source: British Midlands Development Corp.
[Nov 30, 2007]The British Midlands Development Corporation announced that Loughborough Innovation Center based Intelligent Energy and Suzuki have developed the Crosscage, a hydrogen-powered motorcycle that claims to make green driving a reality.
The motorcycle, which runs in almost complete silence and emits pure water, is a joint venture between British Midlands based company, Intelligent Energy, the UK’s leading commercial developer of Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell technology and the Japanese motorcycle and scooter giant.
Although the technology to build hydrogen-powered and fuel efficient vehicles exists, they carry hefty price tags. Until now, mass-production has eluded the industry and nobody has managed to build a commercially viable motorcycle. The Crosscage represents a huge breakthrough. By combining Suzuki’s capacity for mass-production and Intelligent Energy’s lightweight, air-cooled fuel cell design, the reality of affordable green transportation moves closer to reality.
“This is just one of many examples of innovation coming out of The British Midlands,” said Vern Sebby, President and CEO of the British Midlands Development Corporation, ” There are over 3,000 foreign companies operating in the Midlands and many of them are there to partner with our local companies and universities.”
About British Midlands Development Corporation
The British Midlands Development Corporation is the North American economic development agency for central England. The Midlands region is located just one hour to the north of London and includes the major commercial centers of Birmingham, Nottingham, Coventry and Northampton.
As an agency funded by the UK Government, The British Midlands Development Corporation provides specialist advice and support to North American companies seeking to establish a presence or expand a current operation in the region. The British Midlands Development Corporation provides access to business networks, details about sources for grants and funding, business support services, and information to help companies identify opportunities to develop and grow.
The British Midlands Development Corporation is based in Chicago with branch offices in Boston, Washington, DC and San Jose.
]]>Kapital Moto TV would like to announce our partnership with Amazon Entertainment, for the first time making available online the full length Troy Bayliss documentary, Troy’s Story .
Troy’s Story is the definitive exposé about this Australian and Ducati superbike hero. Covering Troy’s early racing history, his first World Superbike championship and battles with Colin Edwards, right up to his entry into MotoGP, this inspirational 99 minute documentary is now available online only at Kapital Moto TV.
Learn about Troy’s early career and the dedication that makes him one of the most dynamic and inspirational motorcycle racers of the 21st century. Troy’s Story takes us behind the scenes of Troy’s life and loves, including the sacrifices required to reach the pinnacle of the world motorcycle racing scene.
Narrated by internationally acclaimed actor and self-confessed Troy Bayliss fan Ewan McGregor, Troy’s Story is available in four episodes, as well as a large selection special bonus features. Part 1 and all special features can be viewed free of charge. The remaining three parts are competitively priced at GBP0.99 each.
Troy’s Story Online - http://kapitalmototv.com/channel-22.html
Kapital Moto TV - http://kapitalmototv.comRegards,
The Kapital Moto TV Team
Back in 1985, I was the pround owner of an overstocked new 1984 Yamaha IT490. It was about $2000 and it was arguably the best al around enduro that the Japanese produced (Husky’s were still bad-ass back then). That leads me to another question: PRICE. Buell hs their cheap entry bike in the Blast, but overall, they are not known for their value…be it bang for the buck upon purchase or resale.
Heh - belt drive?
<blockquote>Buell to build off-road motorcycles within two years
Tuesday March 13, 2007
Buell Motorcycle Co. says it has plans to enter a new motorcycle segment — the off-road market.
The company plans to design off-road bikes specifically designed for closed-course competition.
“We’ve told our dealers about our plans to bring an off-road, closed-course competition motorcycle to market within the next two years,” said Chairman and Chief Technical Officer Erik Buell. “This will allow Buell dealers the time needed to make plans to meet the needs of this new market and customer.”
“Harley-Davidson and Buell are highly committed to broadening the range of products we offer and reaching out to new groups of customers,” said Buell President and Chief Operating Officer Jon Flickinger. “We’re always looking at new market opportunities, but this one is particularly exciting.”
No other details about the Buell off-road motorcycle have been released.</blockquote>
]]>2008 World Superbike dreams 1-Aprilia V4 999 Prototype 0
The Aprilia V4 project utilizes a brand new V4 999cc engine destined both for world superbike and the road. The V4 will be Aprilia’s first ever four cylinder motorcycle. Already now at the very beginning of the project Aprilia stipulates a max power of more than 210hp from the superbike version. Aprilia surprised everyone when it last threw itself into World Superbike racing with the RSV Mille by being competitive and winning races in the first year. The new V4 project is a different ballgame and the engine is completely designed in-house. But in many ways, Aprilia have got more racing heritage to its name than Ducati. Not in world superbikes, but on the GP tracks with 125’s and 250’s. The RS Cube MotoGP project failed big time for Aprilia and almost run the company off the map financially. The triple engine had more than enough power, but was virtually unrideable. So Aprilia are now trying again with a new engine in World Superbike. You might speculate that Aprilia chose the V4 999cc engine to gain experience in the V4 format and perhaps also be able to produce an 800cc version for future MotoGP glories.The 65 degree V4 was also chosen to utilize Aprilia’s extensive know how in producing a race chassis around narrow V-engines. The new V4 is even more compact than the current V60 used in the RSV models. Aprilia will use fly-by-wire technology with wiring never seen on any motorcycle before. The fuel management system is very advanced where servo motors only operate its own row of cylinders throttle bodies. This has been done to optimise high power engine management. This is needed when the V4 spins around at a maximum 13.500rpm.
Aprilia recently started testing of the new engines in a new chassis. The bike is called Prototype 0. This is the very first shakedown test of the engine after bench testing under realistic conditions on a roadracing circuit. The rest of that prototype is basically a modified RSV 1000R. The bike will be shown with final design and chassis at the 2007 EICMA show in Milan. Words: Tor Sagen/CG: Robert O’Brien/Photo-CAD: Aprilia
I say congradulations to the HD employees on strike. Because of them complaining about a small increase in health benefits, countless other people are being laid off at other companies that make products for Harley. I don’t know if anyone knows, but Harley does not make their motorcycles by themselves completely. A majority of the aluminum engine components are made by several aluminum factories in the US. Due to the strike, Harley has stopped ordering these parts. At some plants, (namely the one I work at) Harley is about 20-30% of our business. So about 60 of my fellow workers, friends, and fellow americans are now OUT OF A JOB! Uh, and this whole time I was under the impression that unions were formed to help protect american jobs. Thanks to the union workers at Harley, an ENTIRE plant that helps support a middle sized town in Missouri, has nearly halved their staff and may close down completely if the strike progresses too long. I am in complete awe that an organization that was initially formed to help is now the reason why jobs are being lost in a second, why companies are being forced to go overseas to provide the same product at a lower cost that is being demanded by the public! And the people blame Bush for this! Ha, wake up, the reason there are not any good jobs left is because the average joe is either to lazy to work for a decent wage, or they think they are underpaid for a job that they are really already being overpaid for.
Comment by | February 12th, 2007 11:22 pm | Permalink | Edit Comment
Herein lies the problem. The “brotherhood” as its called, has a reach that extends way beyond its factory walls. It reaches into plants where the management and workers actually have a good relationship. It reaches into the pockets of many workers outside of York, PA who likely have nowhere near the sweetheart benefits deal that the HD employees have (current or proposed).
Care should be taken as Pennsylvania has a higher unemployment rate, well above the national average. It has become a popular trend for management to stick to fiscal discipline and bring in replacement workers (Detroit Free Press & Northwest Airlines come to mind) to get things going again. Time will tell I guess.
Oh, and finally it does reach to your ‘brothers’ within the company:
Harley-Davidson lays off 440 in Wis. because of strike in Pa.
MILWAUKEE — Harley-Davidson Inc. laid off 440 employees in Wisconsin yesterday because of an ongoing strike in York, Pa., at the company’s largest production plant.
The layoffs were both voluntary and forced, he said, though he declined to say how many were forced. He said it’s unclear when the employees will be allowed back to work at the plants, where parts such as engines and windshields are made.
Last week, Harley said the strike would cause it to miss shipment expectations for the first quarter. The company had expected to ship between 82,000 and 84,000 bikes during the first three months of the year. Harley declined to provide updated shipment expectations for the first quarter and would not say whether the strike will have an effect on financial guidance for the full year.
Some 2,800 workers have been striking since Feb. 2 at the York plant, where top-selling Touring and Softail bikes are made.
Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Works, Local 175, overwhelmingly rejected a three-year contract proposal, which offered annual raises of 4 percent, but would have reduced pay for new hires, required employees to begin paying part of their health insurance premiums, and forced pension concessions.
One has to wonder of the brotherly love that is available in Wisconsin towards the York folks. One also has to wonder where the future development money will come from to make new motorcycles if the profits take a substantial hit. What profits will the unions be able to go after? And once again, I ask who the hell would want to work there after the dust settles. Most important, will the quality of the machinery, the brand loyalty, and/or the good will take a hit? In the short-sighted world of strikes, I seriously doubt that any of those have even been considered. I know, I just want to have my cake and eat it too.
]]>I am sorry, but I have no sympathy here. A 4% wage increase GUARANTEED without some sort of performance evaluation is a golden parachute as far as I am concerned for an employee of a big company. This is the average increase for us white collar folks on non-promotion years given a good review.
As far as benefits are concerned, I am amused to read that the major sticking point was that they had to convert to the ’salaried’ employees health car plan. Two things scream short-sightedness:
- The fact that the increase in the 401k matching contribution seemed to have been ignored (granted, no amounts are given below for any part of the contract).
- The company’s solvency. How’s that big company free health care for all union employees working for GM? Ford? Some people would rather have no job at $1/hour more on paper or in principle, than actually work.
HD has always used the union as a bragging right to their customer base. While it seems to work, its gonna be a likely and costly eye-opener.
HD strikes tonight at 12:01am!
]]>The following release is from Harley-Davidson: York, Pa., February 1, 2007 — Harley-Davidson Motor Company expressed disappointment at the union vote yesterday that rejected a proposed new collective bargaining agreement for employees and authorized a strike at its final assembly operations in York, Pa. A strike at the facility is expected to occur as early as 12:01 a.m. February 2, when the current contract expires.As a result of the pending strike, production of Touring and Softail motorcycles at Harley-Davidson’s operations in York has been suspended.
“We are obviously disappointed by the union’s decision,” said Fred Gates, General Manager of Harley-Davidson’s operations in York. “The proposed contract was structured to help manage future costs that could be detrimental to our business over the long term,” Gates said. “While Harley-Davidson is a strong company today, we don’t want to find ourselves in ten years in the same position that the Detroit auto industry is in now.”
The proposed contract provided for a four percent wage increase in each of the three contract years. Two percent of the increase was dependent on the union accepting the Company’s salaried health care plan or another plan that would save the Company an equal amount of money. The Company’s union employees in York currently pay no premium for health insurance coverage and minimal out of pocket costs. The proposal would have doubled the Company’s 401(k) contribution match and would have provided a special monthly retirement supplement for certain employees who retire during the contract period. The proposal also would have instituted a second-tier wage and benefit plan for new employees hired after February 2, 2007. For example, under the two-tier structure, new assembly worker hires would have earned $18.25 per hour in the first year of the contract, compared to $20.78 per hour for current assembly workers in the first year of the contract.
Harley-Davidson production employees in York are represented by International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Local 175.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. is the parent company for the group of companies doing business as Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Buell Motorcycle Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and offers a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories, apparel, and general merchandise. Buell Motorcycle Company produces sport motorcycles in addition to motorcycle parts, accessories and apparel. Harley-Davidson Financial Services, Inc. provides wholesale and retail financing and insurance programs to Harley-Davidson dealers and customers.
On the flipside, Ducati NA seems to be in growth mode. Not just a couple of years ago, the company was being kicked around by different owners and having its own financial troubles. Maybe that tide has turned.
What is even better is their new product line. The future 1098 and Super ‘tard and the current Monster 1000 have been drawing a lot of interest in the brand. I am a little surprised that Ducati is doing so well given how awful the current superbike looks - both of them!
All I can say is Bravo!
…from powersportsbusiness.com:
]]>Ducati North America reports a record 2006 Friday January 12, 2007For 2006, Ducati North America sold 8,100 units, which is a 16 percent increase in sales over 2005 and marked another record-setting year for the motorcycle manufacturer. The Desmosedici RR street replica, the 1098 Superbike, the Hypermotard and Troy Bayliss’s championship-winning season in World Superbike spurred the sales growth. The Canadian market led sales growth, with sales up more than 50 percent. Ducati is now one of the two best-selling European motorcycle brands in Canada.
The Monster family led retail sales and the 2007 Monster 695, which began delivery to customers in May, continues to be one of the top selling models. The top-selling Ducati in 2006 was the Monster S2R 1000, which was in its debut year. Ducati motorcycle-related products 2006 revenue increased more than 40 percent in the clothing business and 25 percent in accessories.
Check it out. As I was perusing the internet looking at motorcycle industry news, I stumbled upon an article stating that helmet usage was on the increase.
NOTE: I am purposely leaving out the link because they are correct in their conclusion, I just have a different point.
It cited NHTSA’s National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) as the source for their conclusion. I like the survey method that NOPUS uses - actual survey data at random selections of roadways sites (2006 had 1878 sites observed) - because the only bias is in the site selection. With 1878 sites selected, bias that would favor one segment of riders over another is likely minimized. The link to the pdf file of the 2006 results is here. I have clipped this image from the document as its the most significant data and summarizes it well:
Being one who looks at data every day, the scale of the top chart underplays the year to year difference of helmet usage. It looks pretty flat and not so big of difference. Looking at the numbers though has the maximum in 2000 at 71% and the minimum in 2005 at 48% - a 23% difference in only 5 years! I think that is noteworthy by itself.
It is true that from 2005 (48%) to 2006 (51%) there was a 3% increase, but the overall average for the twelve years of data is 60%. 2006 is still 9% below the average of the entire data set - again, maybe a more significant conclusion. Given a larger scale in the area that matters…say between 40% & 80%…drawing a trend line would show an overall decline in helmet usage versus an increase.
The other part of the data that I find amazing is in the small graph in the bottom right hand corner. The forst bar shows the amount of helmet usage in states that mandate helmet usage - ONLY 83%!!! I lived in Michigan for the first thirty years of my life and I have seen maybe three people in all my time riding, driving, walking, or however I have observed other riders. I would like to see a state by state breakdown of that data.
My interest is in the helmet law itself for this particular chart. If only 83 out of 100 riders observed are wearing a helmet in states that mandate its usage, than its a useless law. I would have bet money that the usage would hve been above 95% given the opportunity to guess.
RANT ON: My goodness, if the cops are not going to enforce the laws on the books, why have them at all. What? They have more important things to do…right? Maybe, but I don;t think traffic citations for 5-10mph over the limit are very important either. I have the opinion that if there are convicted felons with outstanding warrants who are not in custody in my county or city, then traffic citations are not the highest priority. Then again, felons don’t bring in the revenue that traffic citations do. RANT OFF.
The perspective that people take are often unique. I saw the title being “Helmet Usage Increasing”, but after reading the report I thought to myself “uhhh no”. Take a look at the entire report as there are some interesting details. Hell, if you suffer from insomnia print it out and take it to bed. 
Even though the two examples below are days right after each other, its hard to imagine a daily posting. Regardless, a weekly post on the company news will be very useful, especially for a company on the rebound and with all new product lines. I think its a smart move, but time will tell if Mr. Minoli is able to keep the posts coming.
Here’s an entry from December 21:
It’s difficult right now to write on the blog so often. November and December are so full of appointments that I cannot miss. We approved the forecosted results for year 2006; the budget for 2007 and, among general enthusiasm, we started to send the 1098 S to dealers in Europe (here you have a photo of the small party we had for the first bikes that came out of the production line).
Today, while the factory is working so hard to produce the new Superbike, we started the process that defines every tiny aspect of the Hypermotard production, the second great challenge among our products.
Many of you have asked for further information about this bike. As of today I can tell you the following:
-The final products are the ones you have seen at EICMA, without any modification. Currently we are not planning a smaller engine.
-Bikes will be available in European dealers starting from May; in American and Australian ones starting from June.
-All the technical details and prices will be published by me on the blog by mid February, after the completion of the pre-series bikes.
Federico Minoli also posted a speech of his on the direction of Ducati on December 22:
]]>Many of you asked me to share our vision for Ducati, its strategy and plans.
Rather than asking someone in our Public Relation department to come up with a formulaic answer, I thought it might be more interesting to share with you the speech I gave at our world wide dealer conference in Milan.
I originally intended to for our community of dealers but it might also interest you who are equally part of our community. So here are some passages. With this I would like to wish you happy holidays and see you next year.
My fellow Ducatisti, this event is first and foremost a moment of togetherness…. We are here to celebrate a community of friends that share the same passion and the same dream, even more than they share the same business… We are linked by a strong bond, forged through exciting achievements like the extraordinary growth we accomplished from 1996-2002, and strengthened bys ticking together through the difficult circumstances of the past few years.
In good and bad times, the community of Ducastisti stuck together because we share a single dream: winning again… and again … and again. This was our attitude when King Carl Fogarty suddenly crashed out of World Superbike in 2000 at Philip Island. We suffered and, then… out of the blue, come Troy. Or, this year, after the dramatic accident in Barcelona GP, we suffered quite a setback, but then we had Brno and Motegi and the grand finale in Valencia.
From a business perspective, we have also suffered during the last few years of uncertainty. The large displacement premium segment of the motorcycle market stopped growing; the devaluation of the dollar deeply eroded our profits; a good product like the 999 proved to be divisive, and Multistrada encountered initial quality issues. Add to that TPG’s desire to exit from Ducati and the tightening of credit by the banks, and we were in rough waters. But our winning attitude never faltered.
We knew that in order to win again the only thing that really mattered was continuing to invest in racing and product development. And that is what this family did. Everyone tightened his belt. The Ducatisti fans and customers stayed with us despite the allures of our competitors. (…)
We have refined our strategy and, most importantly, both for our pride and for our business, we have exciting new products, the ones that we developed through our common persistence over the last few years. (…)
We must be proud and happy, not only of the products themselves, but also because these bikes (the Hypermotard, the 1098 and the Desmo 16) are not the result of luck, but of a thoughtful refinement of in our strategy, product development organization, and philosophy, a change that will continue to produce results in the future.
The new strategy refocuses on our niche sport positioning, without any compromise. This translates into cutting-edge technology, racing-derived technical solutions, and designs inspired by the racetrack and the stopwatch… No ifs, ands or buts. A Ducati on the racetrack or at any traffic light must deliver better acceleration , better handling, and better braking than anybody else. (…)
The new strategy focuses on premium products, a premium that must be justified not only by the bike’s technological content, but also by its strong identity and personality, by emotion and by the sense of belonging to our tradition.
(…)
The new strategy makes a strong commitment, supported by an organizational change to foster fit-finish and quality of our bikes. Sport Classics were the first bikes to benefit from these efforts. 1098 went through an unprecedented level of testing to improve our quality level. The jury is still out; quality improvement takes time to be recognized, but we have already been able to reduce maintenance intervals and costs by fifty percent. As for the rest, you will be the judges.
With these products and others like the Classics and the S4RS we are focussing on the high end of the market, favouring margins over volume, concerned about our and your profitability rather than about the absolute number of bikes sold. Nevertheless, rest assured that we understand the importance of having a successful entry bike to allow new bikers into our community and to generate traffic in the dealerships. We will invest in one entry bike that could continue the great work done with the Monster 695(…)
In addition to these awesome new products, we can count on everything that we have built together since 1996: a brand with strong character and worldwide recognition and appreciation, a dedicated distribution network anchored around the concept of Ducati Stores, a continuously growing accessory and apparel business, and a flexible manufacturing plant. Nobody can stop us!
Enough business talk. Let’s face it: in racing and in business, Ducati faces a task that, on paper, looks impossible. We produce and sell thirty to forty thousand bikes per year; Honda, nine million… We are David fighting against Goliath. And we beat Honda on their own track at Motegi. At this very minute, they are drooling over the 1098, the Hypermotard, and the Desmo 16.
(…)
We are the only Italian company that can win this battle and we must never give in. we need not only passion, commitment, and technical excellence, but also ingenuity, stubbornness, a contrarian attitude, and perseverance.
(…)
Since the holiday season is approaching let me end with greetings and hopes for a successful new year. I promise you that with our new products 2007 will be a year of success and fun. It’s up to all of us to make it happen and I know for a fact that, once again, we will deliver a great victory.
From motorcyclenews.com:
]]>November 30 2006
Ducati President Federico Minoli has today confirmed Ducati will offer an 848cc version of the stunning 1098 – if you want it.
The announcement was made on Desmoblog, which is written personally by Minoli, who also showed three computer generated images of alternative colour options for the 1098.
The 848 will replace the dated 749 range as Ducati’s supersport sized machine, and will be shown for the first time at the 2007 Milan Show.