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Cruiser Market Hit the Hardest by Recession

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According to the latest polls conducted by PowerSports Business, the cruiser segment of motorcycle sales have been hit the hardest during the current economic meltdown, seeing nearly a 31% drop over last year’s numbers. Following close behind are dual-sport sales, which were reported to be down 29%. Touring bikes have fared better than the rest of the industry, showing only an 9% drop in sales figures.

No numbers were released for the sportbike segment, but these numbers do seem to be better a better outcome than what was being reported by the metric manufacturers earlier this month. Without more data, it’s hard to say who/where the most pain is being felt in the industry, but there clearly are brands and segments that seem to be more insularly to the fluctuations in our economic condition.

Source: PowerSports Business

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Racing

TTXGP Announces PRO2 Class for 2010

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The founders of the TTXGP, that ran at the Isle of Man this last June, have announced that there will be a new racing class in 2010. Called the PRO2 class, participating teams will make two laps around the Mountain Course, with an optional pit stop in-between the laps. The pit stop is not mandatory, but will allow teams to swap-out their battery packs for new ones, if they so desire.

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Rumors

Suzuki GSX-R600 & GSX-R750 to Get Power Increases, Cosmetic Changes in 2010

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For this Tuesday morning we have a vague rumor on what the Suzuki GSX-R600 & GSX-R750 will look like for 2010. Both bikes should see a modest power increase, with the GSX-R600 going from 125hp to 128hp, and the GSX-R750 going from 150hp to 154hp. The bikes will also see cosmetic changes and new features, as Suzuki once again sticks to its 2-year revision cycle.

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Racing

Breaking: Stoner Out Next 3 MotoGP Races

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Ducati has just announced that Casey Stoner will miss the GP this weekend at Brno, as well as the next two races. The decision was made by Stoner and his medical staff back in Australia, who have been trying to track down the reason for the rider’s chronic fatigue.

Stoner will return to MotoGP racing in October, at the Portuguese GP. Until then, Mika Kallio will replace Stoner on the Ducati Marlboro factory bike, and WSBK rider Michel Fabrizio will take Kallio’s spot on the Pramac Ducati satellite team.

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Racing

Hayden to Decide on Ducati by September

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With the MotoGP paddock still up in the air as to where riders will land for the 2010, some riders are in better positions than others. Nicky Hayden finds himself in the unique position of deciding whether or not he will stay with a factory ride, or move elsewhere. Hayden currently has a one-year contract with Ducati, which has an option to renew the contract for another with the American rider.

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Recall

BMW R1200GS Fuel Pump Recall

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BMW is recalling a slew of R1200GS motorcycles made between 2006 and 2008 for a faulty seal on the fuel pump control unit housing. Because of this defect, water could penetrate into the control until and either corrode or short the mechanism, resulting in the pump failing, and fuel not reaching the motor. A sudden loss in power like this could result and non-rider induced superman across the tarmac, and the unnecessary involvement of personal injury attorneys….and no one wants that.

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Bikes

KTM RC8 R McWilliams Limited Edition

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Here in the United States, it’s hard to find a KTM RC8, it’s difficult to get your hands on a KTM RC8 R, and it will be down right impossible to land a KTM RC8 R McWilliams Limited Edition without making a flight to Deutschland…but well worth the trip.

KTM is producing only 100 of these limited edition bikes to commemorate the timely announcement that Jeremy McWilliams will be joining the factory KTM team in the German IDM racing series (the German equivalent of AMA Superbike, minus “the show“) as its third factory rider.

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News

Honda Closes Goldwing Plant

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Honda Motorcycles has announced that it is closing its Marysville, OH manufacturing plant, home of the Honda Goldwing production line. Over 1 million Goldwings have gone through Marysville since it opened in 1979, and Goldwing owners will likely be distraught that production is being moved back to the mothership in Japan.

Since we only have two Goldwing readers on A&R (Sup Graddy!), the real important news from this announcement is that all Honda motorcycles destined for the United States from this point forward will be imports, in what can only be a move by Honda to reduce production costs on the popular motorcycle.

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News

Metric Motorcycle Sales Still Slipping

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It’s doom and gloom today. The motorcycle industry continues to be slogged on the nose like a near-sighted proctologist, as exports from metric manufacturers declined by 65% this June from 2008’s figures. This drop comes after May only showed a 58% loss over last year’s numbers, showing an escalation of the problems for the motorcycle industry, instead of the beginnings of an abatement. For those who aren’t keeping score, 2009 so far has sold 25% less units than 2008, with the crunch hitting the hardest as sales normally would pick up during the summer.

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