May 12, 2008 – Motorcycle Digest

Foremost Insurance Lowers Rates on Ducati Models

Foremost Insurance has lowered insurance rates for several families of Ducati models, the company and Ducati North America said in a press release.
The partnership Ducati and Foremost originally forged in September has developed into several benefits for Ducati owners and DOC Club members, including special discounts; dedicated, motorcycle-friendly customer service; and a partnership with the Pegram Racing Ducati Team.
Ducati North America recently worked with Foremost underwriters to redefine how Ducati motorcycles should be categorized and rated. Reduced pricing structures for Hypermotards, Monsters and SportClassics resulted from the collaboration.
Foremost Insurance now classifies the Hypermotard family as a dual sport and the Monster and SportClassic families have been moved to the standard segment. These motorcycles were previously grouped in the performance classification, which normally carries higher premiums.

Updates for the Upcoming S&S 50th Anniversary

The S&S Cycle 50th Anniversary Celebration set for June 26-29 in LaCrosse, Wis., is coming up quickly. There are only weeks left in the countdown to the biggest build-off ever.
The riverboat cruises are filling up and the hotels in La Crosse are already spoken for. So if you plan to attend, the campgrounds in the area are still available, but if you want a hotel, plan on looking in Onalaska, West Salem, Sparta, Tomah and Prairie Du Chien on the Wisconsin side of things. In Minnesota, you should have luck with Winona and Rochester.
The weekend will be packed full of fun and riding. La Crosse H-D is planning on leading a Saturday ride down to Anamosa, Iowa, to see the National Motorcycle Museum and the J&P Cycles open house. The La Crosse Historical Society is making maps to hand out, illustrating rides to take in the scenery and local historic sights, and the La Crosse Convention and Visitors Bureau is working on four or five good ride maps as well.
A few changes in the builder lineup should be mentioned as well. Due to family issues, Darrian Teeft had to step out of the build, but Kris Krome stepped into master the 145ci V-Series engine he was using. Also, Piet Hoffman had some complications that were preventing him from attending, so a famed Los Angeles builder, is taking on the responsibility of giving an S&S P-Series engine a wild home for the weekend.
For more information, go to www.sscycle50th.com.

Vectrix Announces Dealer Financing Program with GE

Vectrix Corp., manufacturer of a two-wheel zero emission vehicle, announced a new dealer finance program with GE Capital Solutions’ Commercial Distribution Finance, a Vectrix press release stated.
The new program will provide inventory floor planning for North American Vectrix dealers, which will allow the dealers to have an inventory of Vectrix zero emission vehicles in their showrooms.
Chris Moe, chief financial officer of Vectrix, says the company wanted to work with GE because of its valued reputation in the industry.
“We selected GE because of its commitment to environmental initiatives under its ecomagination strategy,” Moe said. “In addition, GE is well respected in the powersports industry, and this dealer finance program demonstrates Vectrix’s commitment to building a world class dealer network. This agreement enables Vectrix to offer floor planning for both existing and new dealers facilitating rapid dealer growth.”

Tread Lightly!, HUMMER Announce Grant Initiative

GM’s HUMMER division and the nonprofit organization Tread Lightly! have launched a new partnership called HUMMER’s Recreation Rescue, which will provide grants to outdoor recreation sites.
The grants will be dedicated toward land use education, management and trail maintenance.
“This partnership comes at a critical time, especially for recreation activities involving the use of off-highway vehicles,” said Tread Lightly!’s executive director Lori McCullough. “These grants will help land management agencies implement their new travel management policies in a way that helps both recreationists and the great outdoors.”
Project sites already selected for 2008 include off-highway vehicle areas in the Sierra National Forest in Central California and the Ocala National Forest in Florida. Other sites are currently under consideration and will be announced by the beginning of summer.

Desperado Founder Announces Resignation

Jeff Nicklus, founder and CEO, of Desperado Motor Racing & Motorcycles recently announced that he had resigned his CEO status effective Sept.1. In a press release, Nicklus says it was simply time to allow the company to move on.
“I will retain my ownership in the corporation as well as my position as chairman of the board of directors of the corporation,”?he said. PSB