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| General Motorcycle Discussion If it doesn't fit in any of the motorcyle forums below, post it here. |
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#1 |
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A motorcycle is a two wheeled automated vehicle.
HistoryIt's difficult to determine who actually invented the motorcycle. Many argue that the German inventors Wilhelm Maybach and Gottlieb Daimler should receive credit. Motorcycle ManufacturersOver the years, many different companies have manufactured motorcycles. Many have gone out of business or been acquired. Existing ManufacturersAustriaHusaberg KTM BelarusMinsk ChinaChang Jiang Motorworks Chunlan Motorcycle Fushida-Battle Haojue Hongyi Motors Jincheng Suzuki Linhai motorcycles Lu Hao Nanfang Motor Qianjiang Qinqi Shandong Shanghai-Ek Chor Motorcycle Xingfu Wuyang Honda Zongshen Czech RepublicJawa EstoniaMagnum Chrome FrancePeugeot Scorpa Sherco Voxan GermanyBMW MZ Sachs IndiaBajaj Auto Hero Honda Royal Enfield TVS Kinetic engineering Kanda Motors IndonesiaHappy Motorcycle Kymco ItalyAeromere Aprilia Benelli Beta Motor Bimota Borile Cagiva CM Ducati Fantic Motor Ghezzi & Brian Gilera Husqvarna Laverda Magni Malaguti Moto Guzzi Moto Morini MV Agusta Piaggio Sumco Terra Modena TM Vertemati VOR Vyrus WRM JapanHonda Kawasaki Suzuki Yamaha Republic of KoreaDaelim Hyosung MalaysiaModenas Petronas PakistanAtlas Honda Ghani Automobile Industries Dawood Yamaha Sohrab Excel Hero Adam Pak Hero Super Star Laser Habib Geo Super Asia Master Ravi Eagle Metro Toyo Road Prince PortugalAJP Casal RussiaIZH Kovrov ZiD IMZ-Ural SloveniaTomos SpainDerbi Gas Gas Montesa Rieju TaiwanKymco Sanyang Her Chee United KingdomCCM Moto-roma Triumph United StatesAmerican Eagle American Ironhorse American Performance Cycle ATK Bourget Bike Works Big Bear Big Dog Big Man Bikes Boss Hoss Buell Motorcycle Company Confederate Desperado Fischer Harley-Davidson Hellbound Steel Ironworks KPX MTT MotoCzysz Norton 4 Orange County Choppers Pantera PCW Red Horse Rhino Motorcycles Rokon Ridley Rucker Saxon Steed Swift Titan United Motors Von Dutch Kustom Cycles Vengeance Victory Vincent Viper West Coast Choppers Wild West Xtreme Choppers ZAP Defunct ManufacturersAce AJS Alta Ambassador AMC Ariel Armstrong AWO Batavus Balkan Beardmore Precision Blackburne Bridgestone Britten Brough BSA Bultaco California Calthorpe Capriolo Carabela Clarendon Cogsley Farnesworth Cleveland Cooper Cossack Cotton Crocker Cushman CWS CZ DKW DOT Douglas EMC EMW Enfield ESO Excelsior Excelsior-Henderson Flottweg Gitane Greeves FN Francis-Barnet Fuji Garell GMZ Helkama Henderson Hercules Hesketh Hodaka Hosk Husqvarna HRD IFA Indian Islo ISOMOTO Iver Johnson James Jawa CZ Laurin & Klement Lefas Lilac Lube Maico Maratos Marsh Ma Matchless MEBEA Mego Megola Merkel Mitsubishi MGC MMZ Mobylette Mondial Monark Morbidelli Motobécane Motor Hispania Munch Mustang MuZ MZ NATI New Hudson Nimbus Norman Norton Nougier NSU OEC Commander OK-Supreme Ossa Palmelli Pannonia Panther Pierce PMZ Pope Puch Rabbit Reading Standard Rickman Rikuo Rokon Royal Enfield Rudge Sanglas Scott Sears SFM Simplex Simson Sprite Spryt Sunbeam SWM Tecnomoto Terrot Thor TIZ TMZ Tomos Triumph Tunturi Velocette Villiers Vincent Waratah Werner WFM Whizzer Wooler Yale Yankee Zündapp |
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#2 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 1,254
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There are as many scooters as motorcycles in some parts of the world and yet I see few comments on them. I see more of them lately even in the US and actually see people touring on them. They are good on gas and a good starter bike for some.
Any comments? |
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#3 | |
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Quote:
for the smaller HDs. ( new car was about $3500.00 or less in those days) Vespa, Cushman, Mustang ruled for us teenagers. Then Honda started selling MC in America. Scooters began a decline in sales. We teenagers all thought true MC were 'cooler' and sexier. All the Scooters brands I mentioned rapidly disappeared. Since we had these HUGE and powerful MC's now. Honda had the amazing and massive 150s, at about 15 hp as I remember , Suzuki had those big 90ccs, Yahama jumped in, etc. Scooters just kinda went away. I found it kind of interesting that Vespa made a bit of a comeback in my area in the 1980's for a short time, but just never regained their past popularity. It is kind of funny now, but I remember when I decided on the Honda 150 Dream, my folks were not so sure it was the right choice. Wnated to know what size tires, parts availability etc. in case we went to war with the Japs again! Ride safe & long, Colorado Fats |
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#4 |
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Afternoon Folks,
I’ve noted the fact that you've listed Indian in the 'Defunct' category, BUT I'm wondering if it wouldn't be appropriate to list in the 'Existing' category as well?! Because I suspect that win, lose or draw - it's always going to be just one of those motorcycle names (like Triumph) that will never ever die - just keep being killed off but bounce back again (much like the Halloween/Michael Myers series)?! After the last couple decades of riding mostly Harleys, I figured it was long overdue to step out of Dogma for at least a while. I considered 1999-2000 Excelsior-Henderson’s, 2001-2003 Indian Scouts, 1987-1999 Kawasaki VN1500 A1-A13 Vulcan’s and 1998-2001 Victory V92C's. I wound up getting a used Victory V92SC Sport Cruiser based on price (cheap!) and the fact the company IS still around to tell the tale. Though Polaris (the mother company) will have absolutely NOTHING to do with it's customers, plus the dealers all seem to can't wait to become EX-Vic dealers?! I'm thinking it's a good bike overall - I'm having fun working on it (restoring) though parts are difficult (but not impossible) to get. Why not the others? Dead after one year Excelsior appears to be a beautiful machine, BUT one that has distinct flaws (defects) that MUST be corrected before riding (OR else!). The Vulcan is a nice scoot that I have been watching since 1987 - but still it was hard to ante up the $1,000 +/- needed to ship the thing cross country for a $2,500 +/- valued bike, ya' know?! And finally Indian – I can’t think of anything cooler then it would be to own BOTH an Indian AND a Harley at the same time, this countries most hated rivals of the past?! But I got to admit I found it hard to shell out a wad of cash (still going into deeper debt) for basically a bike that was using a standard off the shelf S&S ‘Harley-Inspired’ engine that a ton of Chopper shops around the country were STILL using, including Big Dog! Sadly Indian (formally of Gilroy, CA) managed to finally solve that problem with they’re 100ci Power-Plus engine – which consequentially was one of the major contributing factors (loans called in) that killed them off)! Now Chris Craft BOATS (of Great Britain) owns the company and claims they’ll be Chiefs available in 2008 but would I care to bet on it?! Not bloody likely! The first time I ever get to see a brand new Indian SCOUT floating around these parts, then maybe I’ll believe it. But until then, I won’t hold my breath! LRG |
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#5 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 348
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1. Definition of 'motorcycle' should read 'motorized,' not 'automated.'
2. As stated by others here, the list of 'defunct' companies should be updated, considering the fact that 'Indian' and 'Triumph' are, in fact, running. |
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#6 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Central Pa.
Posts: 2,647
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Well Indian was for a couple years but hear they're down again. Saw a 2002 (I think) and it was a cool looking ride.
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#7 |
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Shantytown Mayor
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Huntingdon Co, PA
Posts: 4,721
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Rokon is still at it. http://www.rokon.com/
__________________
07 Ninja 500 98 ZX6E |
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#8 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 1,254
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I also read that they were making Norton again on a limited basis.
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#9 |
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Verified
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: coventry UK
Posts: 16
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The scooter market seems to be HUGE over here in the UK mostly with the young riders but increasingly with commuters to get through traffic in the larger cities, especially in london where cars are charged £5 per day congestion charge. The saving on the congestion charge literary pays for the scooter.
You see young scooter BIKER gangs all over the place during the summer. ![]() Mark Buell XB Parts Buell Motorcycle Forums Last edited by markit; 01-22-2008 at 05:03 PM.. |
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#10 | |
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Ok, that Rokon is fairly an 'oldie' I would say (been around a LONG time
, just like MOST of us...) and apparently STILL are. ;-) Took my wife to the Dentist today - question of the ages: WHY can't these places have BETTER (i.e., CAR & MOTORCYCLE!!!) magazines to look at?! Anyways, Rokon IS advertising still in the Hunting Magazines. The machine is described as in fact being TWO wheeled drive (I'm assuming Front and Rear). I'm wondering - HOW do they manage to route a drive train TO the front?! Man, I was studying them pix and I'm not seeing it. Anyone out there ever get to actually see and ride one of these things in the flesh?! Would like to hear about it! ;-)LRG Quote:
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#11 | |
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#12 | |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 1,254
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Quote:
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#13 |
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#14 |
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#15 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 1,254
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![]() All she needs are bags and a cup holder. |
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#16 |
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Super Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Northeast Illinois
Posts: 1,367
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#17 |
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 2
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Had Good Service with my Bike Shop, I ordered from a shop on Ebay. Ebay ID= Live-Designs-4-U Ordered a set of Chrome Wheels for a super low price. They were alot cheaper than anyone else. I paid $525 on an Outright Sale. No swap needed. Other shops were trying to get $600 with a swap out. This company also sent my Rims FREE UPS SHIPPING!!! I have found my new Shop!! I would definitely recommend them.
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#18 |
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hutchinson Ks
Posts: 215
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I like my Indian, it's an awesome bike
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