Stop dragging your social networking feet
A recent study at the ‘The Carole Nash Motorcycle Live 2010’ show looked at 202 of the Motorcycle Live exhibitors, the research focused on the visible level of social media integration each had achieved with their website. Data was collected about Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and RSS integration, as well as the use of content sharing tools such as AddThis.
One key study result showed 65 percent of the study group from the US and International motorcycle companies had no social media integration at all.
What!? Why is the motorcycle industry behind the curve, we ask? We are no different than any other business. We want customers, and in turn, our efforts make us successful.
Our “friends” on Facebook and Twitter followers understand the impact Throttler magazine delivers socially online as well as in print. We’re gathering our readers and motorcycle enthusiasts from every corner of the world keeping them abreast of motorcycle news, trends, events and everything possible.
Sure, that makes sense for a magazine and it also makes good business sense to any company selling motorcycles, apparel, accessories, parts or anything motorcycle related.
Months ago we reached the 5,000 “friends” mark on Facebook and are gaining hundreds of Twitter followers each month. We encourage all of our readers and businesses to get involved.
Social media is about engagement with current and potential customers, earning trust as an authority, building strong relationships and managing reputation. This all revolves directly around frequent interaction and conversation and is no different than speaking with our customers in person at our businesses.
Social media is a meaningful barometer for businesses with products and services to connect with their customer demographics and likewise, for their customers to get immediate information on such things.
The popularity of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn more than quadrupled from 2005 to 2009.
U.S. marketers will spend $3.08 billion to advertise on social networking sites this year, according to new estimates from eMarketer.
That’s a 55 percent increase over the $1.99 billion U.S. advertisers reportedly spent on social networking sites in 2010.
And which social network is poised to take the biggest slice of those ad dollars? You guessed it: Facebook.
eMarketer expects that advertisers will spend $4 billion on the social networking giant this year, $2.19 billion of which will come from U.S. advertisers.
With over 500 million users, Facebook is now used by 1 in every 13 people on earth, with over 250 million of them (over 50 percent) who log in every day. The average user still has about 130 friends.
48 percent of 18-34 year olds check Facebook when they wake up, with 28 percent doing so before even getting out of bed. The 35+ demographic is growing rapidly, now with over 30 percent of the entire Facebook user base. The core 18-24 year old segment is now growing the fastest at 74 percent year on year. Almost 72 percent of all U.S. Internet users are on now Facebook.
Over 700 Billion minutes a month are spent on Facebook, 20 million applications are installed per day and over 250 million people interact with Facebook from outside the official website on a monthly basis, across 2 million websites. Over 200 million people access Facebook via their mobile phone. 48 percent of young people said they now get their news through Facebook. Meanwhile, in just 20 minutes on Facebook over 1 million links are shared, 2 million friend requests are accepted and almost 3 million messages are sent.
That’s a big curve, isn’t it?
As always, ride hard.
R. Kabel, S. Kabel & Scott Chambers
May 2011 online edition:
Click on the cover above for a page flipping version or the iPad for your iPad or mobile phone.
The Dynamic Duo New trike builder foe create hero’s out of veterans
By Roderick Kabel
Like the ringleader for the largest show on earth, Tim Mortenson is a force to be reckoned with these days. Alongside his trusty and fiery brother Dan, when it comes to their love of building custom trikes, the dynamic DRT Bros. have endured years of ups and downs in this hideous market that’s much like a rickety old wooden rollercoaster jolting your fillings out.
Nevertheless, they have held on to their principles with their tried and true ways of conducting business, thus rising to the top of their game as leaders in the trike industry.
“We’re builders! Not installers! Let’s get that straight once and for all,” Tim says. As we sit down for our first pitcher of beer I know these are proud men when it comes to trike building. And, with the onslaught of recent newcomer introductions into the trike market they have observed the havoc created by pesky greenhorns. READ MORE
Do you know?
Chuck Tomson
We’re not conspiracy theorists but we do believe we met Chuck Tomson for a reason. This 4th grade teacher at Dunkerton Elementary in Dunkerton, Iowa is from the new and ever-growing demographic of riders that are keeping this lifestyle alive.
Admittedly, Tomson says he hasn’t been riding Harleys long and that’s precisly what makes him distinctive in our book. Moreover, it’s not what you ride all the time but, rather, it’s his enthusiasm and exuberance for the open road that we sometimes forget.
“I am a rookie when it comes to Harleys, and I am probably not the stereotypical motorcycle rider. I did not grow up around motorcycles, don’t know much about them, and I don’t own a lot of leather clothes (at least not yet),” Tomson says. “My parents wouldn’t even let me have a moped! You might say I am a non-traditional rider. But I have always loved the idea of motorcycles and the freedom of the road.”
Klock Werks Cycles “There are no original ideas, just better ones”
By Dean Lambert
Brian Klock attributes this quote to Walt Disney, but I can’t verify it. In any case, there is some truth to it unless you give points for originality to someone who creates products that successfully merge aesthetics and performance better than anyone else.
The Klock Werks Cycles story begins in a small, Eastern South Dakota town (pop. <400) where the company’s founder and namesake ran a couple of his father’s businesses. Brian Klock was always a gearhead, working on motorcycles and cars while growing up in America’s northern plains.
“I wasn’t having any fun unless I was working on bikes, so I decided to put everything I had and could borrow to build motorcycles full time,” said Brian.
He and Laura, who hails from neighboring Wisconsin, met at a motorcycle event and began dating off and on for some time before drifting apart. Laura had been riding and working on bikes since she was young, too. Eventually they connected again, tried to keep the relationship and the business separate, but the effort was futile. Brian and Laura were married in September 2007 on the Bonneville Salt Flats.
REVIEW Klock Werks Cycles: The Billboard Flare Innovative Control from Klock Werks [V2]
By Dean Lambert My first impressions of the detachable Billboard Flare windshield are quite positive. I’ll start by mentioning that I hope Brian and his “Krew” will be introducing a couple of height options for us shorter-waisted riders.
While the Billboard Flare’s polycarbonate is crystal clear and ripple-free, once the bugs start smacking the glass, I would become very annoyed. On my maiden voyage with the Billboard Flare, I rode through high winds and a drizzle; thus, the shield height was quite welcome.
The single most overlooked, and most important feature of the entire line of Klock Werks Flare line of products is that there is much greater stability in the handlebars. There is improved handling and stability due to the downforce created by careful control of the wind stream. To me, this is the real value in this product. If you don’t want wind in your face, get back in your cage!
The wind that manages to get to the rider is turbulence-free. Stock shields move the wind around the rider just fine, but wind coming over and swirling between the shield and the rider is very noticeable. The Flare’s patented “flip and hip” design practically eliminated this for me. I only wear a helmet in inclement weather or when the law dictates; with the stock shield in place, my half-shell usually rises up and the strap digs into my neck. With the Klock Werks Flare, my helmet stayed right in place.
I owned and would recommend the fairing version of the Flare, and based on my experience can give the FLHR Billboard Flare the same thumbs-up.
Specifications:
• Provides 15 lbs. of downforce to the front of your bike.
• 19-3/8” actual windshield height and 18” from top of headlight cutout to beginning of the flip
• Model available for 94-11 FLHR
• Lexan® Polycarbonate with FMR hard coating
• Predrilled for easy mounting using stock windshield mounting hardware.
• Made in the U.S.A.
• Available for Harley-Davidson Sportster, Dyna, Softail and FLHR
• Price is $229.95 without mounting hardware
On the Road with Johnny & Jay Strip Club’s beginnings: Jack of all trades - Master of none
As I (Johnny Lange) travel this country behind the wheel of the freightliner doing motorcycle events of all sizes, I am constantly asked one question: “How did you come up with the idea for Strip Club Choppers?”
Well, here is the real story:
I started in the motorcycle industry in the 90’s as a commissioned salesman for a California motorcycle dealer. I quickly became the General Manager. I also worked for two bike manufacturers and a custom builder/frame manufacturer.
My duties at these positions ranged from floor sweeper, to road dog, to marketing, to writing manuals, to bike building. In other words, I was a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. I had always had a lot of marketing, sales and product ideas. Some were great while others failed miserably. But, I always knew I wanted to take a chance and get out on my own. I knew if I could combine sex and motorcycles, I was pretty sure it would be well received within the motorcycle culture.
I came up with lots of names but finally settled on “STRIP CLUB CHOPPERS” and after lots of market “research” at numerous adult establishments I trademarked the name and secured the domain.
The fast, silent girl
By Luuezz Denise Gasper
Out of the gate, handgrips open full-throttle as a kaleidoscope of colors constantly change patterns while they battle it out for the Professional Woman’s Motocross Championship.
These women are strong, inspiring, energetic, durable, and amazing. There is nothing soft about them…at least not on the track. They are the dirty girls of motocross competing for the trophy.
Women all across the American landscape are making history in motorcycle racing. They are breaking through barriers of the past and expanding their vision to win the race.
Today’s women are winning in remarkable figures on the racetracks. But, there is one exceptional individual that rises over all others. She has made the impossible possible. Often we set our standards too low but this girl will change your way of thinking.
Ashley Fiolek (pronounced FYE-lick), resides in St. Augustine, Florida. Her favorite color is pink. She is 5’2” and 107 pounds with pink streaks throughout her blonde hair. Ashley is gaining much attention and making a lot of noise these days. What makes this young woman’s story especially remarkable is that she was born profoundly deaf.
How to keep your bike fast and quiet, too
By Sean Goulart
Editor, www.MXNewsfeed.com, The #1 Rated Motocross Newsfeed
In past issues of Throttler magazine we have tried to educate our readers on the importance of keeping the noise level of our machines down, as it’s that sound that people who don’t ride seem to hate the most.
Of course I’m a racer and love the sound of power but I’ve learned that high performance and high noise levels don’t necessarily go hand in hand. Another great reason to ride with a properly installed and maintained exhaust is the ability to have a spark arrestor, lowering the probability that a spark from the exhaust may ignite something in our valuable riding areas.
Two-stroke and four-stroke bikes require different exhaust components, and in this article we are only looking at replaceable components, not full systems.
So what do you need?
Obviously 2-strokes have a completely different setup than a 4-stroke machine. Right off the bat you have your expansion chamber, this element of the exhaust utilizes sonic energy contained in the exhaust gas exiting the cylinder to supercharge the cylinder with fuel mix and the shape is very important. A dented or improperly fitted expansion chamber can make a bike run excessively loud, lose a tremendous amount of performance as well as running the risk of actually blowing up your engine due to incorrect fuel mixture.
2011 brings fresh enthusiasm
By Tony Tice
Victory recently had their 10th birthday. In the 10 years Victory has been around, the Motor Company may have noticed a little bite out of their pie by the “other” American made motorcycle. In 2003, Victory changed the face of their bikes so dramatically from styling cues penned by Arlen and Corey Ness, it practically became a new company.
Gone were the quasi-agricultural, blocky designs and in with the contemporary, flowing designs of modern motorcycling. Way to go!
Then in 2008, along came the love-it-or-leave-it styling of the futuristic appearing Vision Tour and Vision Street. The Vision broke new ground for Victory by being the first all aluminum-alloy chassis and introduced a new 106 ci engine that is now being used across the entire Victory line-up. Two years later and the bagger twins, Cross Country and Cross Roads, both based around the Vision’s “Core” chassis, make their debuts. Until now, all these bikes had been based on a standard cruiser ergonomic layout. 2011 turns the corner and there is a game changer, by way of the High Ball.
“It’s exciting to be a part of a company that is in growth mode right now. Victory is coming out with new models. Polaris’ acquisition of Indian emphasizes the commitment they’ve made to motorcycling,” says Dave Bak, owner of Bak BMW Victory (Sioux City, IA (712) 258-7900, www.bakbmw.com).
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David Mann: Outlaws who
saved biker history
David Mann — an American icon
known for his depiction of motorcycles
and the biker lifestyle — learned as
much from Iowa’s outlaw bikers as
they did from him. CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE
Throttler Magazine's 2009 Hole Shot
at the Iowa Speedway.
Filmed by Jay Knoll
Nevertheless, they have held on to their principles with their tried and true ways of conducting business, thus rising to the top of their game as leaders in the trike industry.
My first impressions of the detachable Billboard Flare windshield are quite positive. I’ll start by mentioning that I hope Brian and his “Krew” will be introducing a couple of height options for us shorter-waisted riders.
