Motorcycle Headlines and Upcoming Events: Victory Sales Take Off. "American Chopper" or Gas Prices Selling Bikes?

Ready to recycle your cycle? Harley's museum edges closer to reality. What's a Sanyang? A Honda truck to haul your bike. Biketoberfest gets kick-started.

Victory Sales more Than Double in Third Quarter
Sales of Victory motorcycles increased to $11.1 million during Q3 2004—more than twice the $4.9 million the firm saw in the third quarter of 2003. For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2004, sales of Victory motorcycles increased 35 percent compared to the first three quarters of 2003. The company cites, "growing brand recognition, an increase in the number and quality of Victory dealers and the initial production and shipment of the model year 2005 motorcycles..." This was obviously good news for parent Polaris, which was facing a loss from the shut-down of its watercraft division.
Business Wire
Miami Herald, FL
Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, MN

The "American Chopper" Effect
This article, originally from Newsweek, credits some of the current motorcycle sales boom to TV shows like those featuring Jesse James and the Paul Teutul Sr. and Jr duo.
MSNBC

Or Are Gas Prices Driving Motorcycle Sales and Use?
Some say yes, others say no. Sales in Amarillo don't seem to be responding, but readers of our sister magazine website, MotorcyclistOnline.com, say they are riding more. Other stories see more buyers looking for a way to reduce gas prices. Amarillo Globes News
MotorcyclistOnline Poll
Modesto Bee, CA
WTWO TV, IN

Japan's Big 4 Create Motorcycle Recycling Scheme
The Japanese government requires car makers to support a recycling system, but the motorcycle makers created one voluntarily for their products.
GreenBiz.com

Harley's Museum Clears Another Hurdle
Milwaukee's Redevelopment Authority has given the green light to the project, which Harley hopes to open by the end of 2007.
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WI

Daytona Beach Biketoberfest Gets into Gear
The article has a schedule of events as well as news.
Daytona News-Journal, FL

Sanyang's 50th
Never heard of Sanyang? We're not surprised, since their motorcycles aren't sold in the U.S. The company is Taiwan's first and largest motorcycle maker and is the top-selling powered two-wheeler brand in some countries. Until recently, it has partnered with Honda, and it has production facilities in Vietnam and mainland China. It only makes a few small (125 and 150cc) motorcycles but has a couple dozen scooter models plus ATVs. It is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
CNA News, Taiwan

Honda's Motorcycle Transporter
We have no details, just a mention that Honda will be showing an "Acty Motorcycle Transporter" in the "Commercially Available Vehicle Zone" section of its display at the Tokyo Motor Show. The Acty series are small pick-ups, vans and transporters currently sold in Asia. Some of the variations are shown above. No clue about whether we might ever see them here or if a VTX would fit in it. The mention is at the bottom of the page linked to below.
Honda World News

Some Upcoming Events
Oct. 22-24: Arizona Indian Owners Pow-Wow, Parker
Oct. 24: Ride for Kids, Lafayette, LA
Oct. 21-24: Biketoberfest, Daytona BeachOct 31: Pumpkin Run, Ft. Walton Beach, FL
Nov. 5-7: International Motorcycle Show, San Mateo, CA
Nov. 7: Ride for Kids, Dunnellon, FL
Nov. 14, Love Ride 21, Glendale, CA
Nov. 19-21: International Motorcycle Show, Dallas

For more breaking motorcycle news, visit the home page of www.MotorcycleCruiser.com.

If you have questions or comments about the stories referred to here or know of an article or event that you think we should include, please email Motorcycle Cruiser's web editor at Art.Friedman@primedia.com or at ArtoftheMotorcycle@hotmail.com.