Life In America
2010 – Median household income is $50,303. A Deepwater Horizon off-shore well explodes creating America’s worst oil spill. Troop surge is implemented in Afghanistan. Apple introduces the iPod and iPhone 4. Android outsells Apple in the smart phone category. Adele has a hit with, Rolling in the Deep. Toy Story 3 is number one on the silver screen. Jay Leno returns to the Tonight Show. South Park airs 200th episode. Gas is $2.73 per gallon.
| Number One Motorcycle Trend: |
| Electronics are taking over, starting with EFI in the ‘80s, we now have electronic traction control, ABS, throttle by wire, suspension control, steering damping and other devices to improve motorcycles. |
European Brands Road Tested/Reviewed
Aprilia: RSV4 R, Mana 850. Bimota: DB7 Oronero. BMW: F800R, S1000R, R1200GS, S1000RR, F800GS. Ducati: Multistrada 1200, 796 Hypermotard, Hypermotard EVO, Hypermotard EVO SP, Multistrada Touring, 1198 Corse, Multistrada 1200S Sport, Hypermotard NCR Hypermotard Leggera, NCR Desmosedici Millona 16, 848 EVO. Husqvarna: TE250, TE630. KTM: 150XC, 8 RC R, 250SX-F, 450 SX-W Six Days, 350 SX-F, 690 SMC. MV Agusta: Brutale 990R, Brutale 1090RR, F4 1000R. Vespa: GTS 300 Super (Scooter). Triumph: Rocket III Roadster, Thunderbird, Bonneville, Sprint GT.
Asian Brands Road Tested/Reviewed
Honda: VFR1200F, CRF250R, Shadow Phantom, NT700V, NT700V-ABS, CBR1000RR ABS, CRF450R, Shadow RS, PCS (Scooter). Kawasaki: Concours 14, KLX110L, KX250F, Z1000, Vulcan 900 Classic, KX250F, KX450FNinja ZX-10R. Kymco: Down Town 300 (Scooter), Super 8 150 (Scooter). Star: Stratoliner Deluxe, V-Star 950. Suzuki: RM-Z250, RM-X450Z. SYM: Simba (Scooter). Yamaha: YZ450F, YZ250F, YZF-R1, Super Tenere.
American Brands Tested/Reviewed
Big Dog: Bull Dog. Brammo: Enertia (Electric), Impulse 100 (Electric). Can-Am: Spyder RT-S. Harley-Davidson: CVO Street Glide, 48, Wide Glide, Iron 883, Super Low. Regen: e-SBK (Hybrid). Victory: Cross Country, XR1200. Zero: X (Electric)
Other Issues
After 21 years David Edwards steps down as Editor of Cycle World and Mark Hoyer takes his place.
Chris Carr pushes the BUB streamliner to a new motorcycle land speed record, 367.382 MPH.
AMA develops legislation that enables local governments to evaluate motorcycle sound emissions based on SAE testing.
Norton is again revived, this time by Brit Stuart Garner and based on Kenny Dreer’s 961 Commando.
Harley-Davidson shuts down the Buell brand, ending a 26-year run.
Danny Eslick pilots a Buell to victory in the new AMA Pro Daytona Sport Bike class.
The Aprilia RSV4 is picked as International Bike of the Year.
The Motus an American designed and built V4 touring bike specs are revealed.
Harley-Davidson announces distribution plans for India, home of the world’s largest middle class.
Dainese and Alpine Stars both introduce rider airbag systems.
Sales of road bikes are down 40% from ’09, off-road bikes are down 28%
May issue features an in-depth history of Buell.
A 1936 Crocker, number 14, sells for an unheard of $350,000.
Elena Myers becomes the first woman to win an AMA Pro Racing Super Sport event.
Suzuki only imports five motorcycles for 2010, four dirt bikes and a small displacement road bike.
Claudio Castiglioni buys MV Agusta back from Harley-Davidson for $1.00.
Martin Cardenas won the AMA Sportbike title last year on a Suzuki. Eslick won the series in 09 on a Buell. Eslick road a Suzuki last year.
Gas is $2.73 per gallon? Where?!?!?!
I was paying $2.70 in Texas in 2010, then around $2.75 in SC in later 2010