Cycle Update

The AMA has announced that it will take its “Justice for All” initiative to South Dakota in August for the 64th annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Justice for All is intended to focus the public’s attention on the inadequate sentencing of drivers who seriously injure or kill motorcyclists. The AMA advocates legislation establishing tougher penalties when traffic offenses or criminal actions by motorists result in death or serious injury.
“Although ‘Justice for All’ came out of motorcyclists’ reaction to a case in South Dakota, it’s important to remember that inadequate sentencing is an issue nationwide,” said Edward Moreland, vice president of AMA government relations. “That’s why we’re going to Sturgis — to bring this message to thousands of motorcyclists, who can then take action in their home states.”
Sturgis rallygoers can visit the AMA’s Justice for All information center at the Sturgis Music Festival grounds, located one block off Main Street at the corner of 2nd and Lazelle, from August 10-13.
H-D opens subsidiary in Spain
Harley-Davidson Inc. has set up a wholly owned subsidiary to serve the Spanish motorcycle market.
Based in Barcelona, the new business unit, 100% owned by the U.S. parent, will be in charge of imports of both motorcycles and spare parts of Harley-Davidson and Buell brands. Josep Grano was named director.
Harley-Davidson products previously were distributed in Spain by the Onex automotive group. At present, the Motor Company has branches in all European countries except Ireland and Portugal.
CBR1000RR Recall
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. is recalling nearly 8,200 model year 2004 CBR1000RR motorcycles because of a computer glitch that could prompt the digital speedometer to indicate approximately 25% less than the actual vehicle speed.
According to U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall number 04V254000, this condition can result in the vehicle being driven at an illegal or unsafe speed, which could increase the risk of a crash.
Dealers are asked to install an updated speedometer and associated components on the 8,189 potential units affected. Owner notification is expected to begin this month. For questions, call Honda at 800/999-1009.
BIG DOG ADDS TWO
Big Dog Motorcycles recently named two additions to the firm.
Ron Hill was named Quality Assurance Manager. Hill is charged with managing the 11-member quality control team as it focuses on improving the company’s inspection procedures, techniques, and effectiveness.
Big Dog’s customer service, technical support, and warranty team expanded with the addition of Mike White, charged with streamlining and improving the company’s entire warranty and customer service processes. White previously directed all warranty administration and claims processing, trained personnel and dealers, and drafted new policies, procedures, and communications at Mercury Marine, a subsidiary of Brunswick Corporation.
Ducati Exhibits New Engine
Ducati exhibited its new V4 engine for the first time at World Ducati Week in Misano, Italy. The manufacturer says the engine, based on the lump powering the Moto GP racers of Loris Capirossi and Troy Bayliss, is to form the core of a new range of machines.
A replica of the race Moto GP bike will be marketed as a limited edition in 2006 at an approximate price of 50,000 euros.
Moto-X 338 names Successor to Yelin
Diane Peebles has been tapped to lead promotion of the Southwick National at New England’s Moto-X 338 track, filling a position opened with the passing of Bernie Yelin in March.
Yelin had dedicated more than 30 years to the Moto-X 338 track in Massachusetts, and was instrumental in bringing the AMA Chevrolet Motocross Championship to the unique all sand facility for the first time in 1976.
Peebles, who began working at Moto-X 338 in the mid 1970s, taking riders numbers at the finish line. In 1993, several years after Moto-X 338 incorporated, Peebles became a co-owner/stockholder of Moto-X 338. In addition to being the promoter for Southwick, Peebles still works as a secretary with a local race organization and continues to be an advocate of the sport of motocross.
JOSEPH GLYDON, 56
Joseph Glydon, 56, motorcyclist, motojournalist passed away in May at age 56. Glydon wrote an often brilliant, often irreverent and controversial monthly column and various articles for San Francisco’s CityBike magazine, and served as a contributor to Rider, a sister publication of Powersports Business. A Ferrari mechanic by day and a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, Glydon plied the roads of Northern California on a Honda CX500 Custom, primarily because it was stone-axe reliable.
ROBERT FULTON, 95
Robert E. Fulton, author of the book One-Man Caravan, passed away at his home in Connecticut in May. He was 95. One of the best accounts of motorcycle adventure travel ever written, Fulton’s book details his 40,000-mile trek from London in 1932 to 32 countries across Asia and the Mid-east over 17 months. His customized Douglas flat twin had an extra large fuel tank, a hiding place for his .32 revolver, and enough room in his luggage for a motion-picture camera and 40,000 feet of film.
But the motorcycle trip was just a part of a rather full life. Fulton was on the first commercial air flight from Miami to Havana in 1921 and was present at the opening of King Tut’s tomb in Egypt in 1923. In the early 1940s, he developed a simulator that was used to train Navy pilots in aerial combat. psb