April 5, 2010: Motorcyle Digest

Metric OEMs reduce U.S. exports by nearly 80 percent
Metric manufacturers cut back significantly in January on motorcycle exports into North America, a report shows.
Members of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) reported a nearly 80 percent decline in motorcycle shipments to the United States in January, dropping to 6,900 units from 33,650 units a year ago.
A similar pattern was seen in Canada. Exports from JAMA members, which include Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki, totaled 1,378 units there, a drop of 68 percent compared to a year ago.
JAMA members produced 55,045 units for their worldwide markets in January, a decline of 37 percent. These companies have reported production cutbacks compared to the same month of the previous year for 29 consecutive months

Yamaha offers track day demo opportunity
Yamaha Motor Corp. and NESBA are once again offering licensed motorcycle riders the chance to come to a NESBA track day and demo any one of Yamaha’s sport bikes, including the R1, R6, FZ1, FZ6 and FZ6R.
Consumers only need a valid motorcycle license and a helmet as Yamaha and NESBA will have them covered with everything else. “NESBA makes it so easy and everyone is super friendly. Bring a friend, and if you’re a beginner, you won’t be alone,” said David Docktor, Yamaha’s motorcycle marketing manager. Demo rides are at least 15 minutes and will be offered at eight of the tracks east of the Mississippi River.  
If consumers who took the demo ride on the track and buy a Yamaha sport bike from any Yamaha dealer, NESBA will give them a $350 track day credit good at any of the nearly 30 tracks where they operate throughout the United States.
Go to www.nesba.com/demo for demo information.

Hyosung debuts 700cc cruiser at chicago motorcycle show
At the 2010 Chicago International Motorcycle Show, Hyosung unveiled its ST7 cruiser (MSRP: $7,299).
The ST7 is a classically styled 700cc cruiser loosely based on the popular GV650 platform from Hyosung.
“Consumers and industry people alike were very impressed with what our GV650 offered. Still, there was a call for a classically styled version of our popular cruiser. We answered it,” Hyosung Regional Sales Manager Brian Rose said regarding the new ST7.
The ST7 has a wide tank and handlebars as well as large sweeping fenders. It features front and rear disc brakes and a fuel-injected, liquid-cooled 8-valve DOHC engine. A belt drive delivers power to the rear wheel. It will be available in black, red or white.

Ridermagazine.com launches mobile application
Rider magazine, a sister publication of Powersports Business that covers street bike and touring motorcycles, launched its new mobile application — Rider Mobile Alerts. It sends exclusive, weekly updates and articles directly to a user’s mobile device.
“Our new Rider Mobile Alerts make it easy for any motorcyclist to receive the most up-to-date, exclusive information about all things touring, travel and adventure on two wheels pushed to their mobile phone every week,” Greg Drevenstedt, road test editor for Rider, said in the press release. “Even better, those who sign up get this information before it hits our Web site or the magazine.”
The alerts will include brief features about and photos of new bikes, innovative products, industry insiders and two-wheeled touring destinations. “We strive to deliver ‘motorcycling at its best’ to our Rider readers every issue and every day on our Web site,” stated Drevenstedt. “With these new alerts, we can provide even more for our dedicated riders every week.”
Motorcycle enthusiasts also can connect with other riders through social networking tools like Facebook and Twitter via Ridermagazine.com to post opinions and share articles with other riders across the country.

SUZUKI’S ‘BUSABEATS’ CONNECTS WITH young, URBAN RIDERS
As the fastest production motorcycle in the world, the Suzuki Hayabusa has been a favorite with enthusiasts. Among its many fans is a base of young urban riders who value the Hayabusa’s style as much as its horsepower.
Suzuki has capitalized on the Hayabusa’s popularity among a large base of young urban enthusiasts with a unique, worldwide marketing campaign. BusaBeats was launched in 2008 and integrated music, art, video and a variety of digital media with a soft-sell, street-level approach that put entertainment above a typical corporate advertising agenda.
This grassroots promotion tapped into the lifestyle and culture spawned as a result of the Hayabusa. The BusaBeats Web site, at www.BusaBeats.com, was a key component of this marketing promotion, and last year the potential to win a new custom Hayabusa motorcycle attracted even more musical talent by way of a contest called the Busa Beats MC Battle.