Cyclerides.com Weekly Update
1/9/08 

Greetings Riders,
 
Well, it looks like we are going to get some of the best riding weather on a weekend we have seen in a while. The outlook is for sunny and almost 70 degrees. I am ready for winter to be over and get back to some great Arizona weather. I have really been, as we used to say in Kansas, "chomping at the bit" to get out and ride. It got so bad a couple of weekends ago, that I needed to go out to Surprise to take some pictures at Fuzzy's for a bike night that I took the long way back home via Wickenburg. Not exactly a straight shot back to the 101 and Bell, but it sure was nice to get out for a quick hundred miles.  If you missed last week's letter, Click Here to Read.
 
This week hasn't seen any riding, but I was able to get a little glimpse into the future of motorcycling, at least here in the State of Arizona. Chester's Harley-Davidson invited me to the ground breaking ceremony for the expansion of the dealership. They bought the 5 acres directly South of the dealership and are going to develop that into a complete motorcycle lifestyle complex which will triple the footprint of the current location. Plans are still being adjusted as we speak, but some of the highlights might include Rider's Edge training onsite, a built in stage and concert area, customer lounge, Pre-Owned Pavilion and a restaurant. Not only are they developing the 5 acres to expand services to the motorcycle enthusiast, but the existing building of almost 30,000 square feet will be undergoing a complete makeover as well, which will blend into the new complex. Click Here for a picture of the rendering.
 
I have always known that motorcycling is huge in Arizona, largely due to the 300 days of sunshine per year, beautiful scenery and moderate winter temperatures, but with all of the talk of declining motorcycle sales can the city really support dealerships of this size? I don't have the crystal ball to answer that question, but as I started looking around the State at what is coming, apparently those with the Benjamin's to plunk down on these palatial monuments to the sport we all love, the answer to my query is a resounding YES.
 
During my drive home, I started adding up the amount of major dealerships, not just HD, that we already have in the Valley and made a few phone calls as to what might be on the horizon. This is what I found:
 
Arrowhead and Chandler Harley-Davidson that were built about 4 years are beautiful bookend facilities that feature well over 30,000 square feet each devoted to motorcycle sales, motorclothes, parts and service. These 2 stores are packed with new and used motorcycles and include a customer lounge with pool tables and TV's.
 
Buddy Stubbs Harley-Davidson in Phoenix features almost 50,000 square feet devoted to motorcycle sales, motorclothes, parts, service and photos on the walls featuring the lifestyle. Stubbs also has several thousand square feet devoted to the largest motorcycle museum in the Southwest featuring over 70 old and rare motorcycles.
 
Hacienda Harley-Davidson located in Scottsdale has 2 buildings, Hacienda and Hacienda North featuring over 30,000 square feet devoted to motorcycle sales, motorclothes, parts and service. Hacienda North is devoted to the touring bikes and limited motorclothes. However, Hacienda North is in the process of adding 10,000 additional square feet on the upper level that will be a boutique style devoted to just about everything pertaining to the Harley-Davidson lifestyle. You will be able to buy HD billiards tables, Patio Furniture, Pet Products, Motorclothes and upscale clothing. There will be a Wi-Fi hotspot, new H.O.G. Room, Boot Barn and many other non Harley products. Apparently the grand semi-circular stairway to the upper level will be something to see.
 
Superstition Harley-Davidson features over 50,000 square feet devoted to motorcycle sales, motorclothes, parts and service. This store was built only a couple of years ago and is still growing. As you walk through this multi-level dealership you really get a feel for the lifestyle throughout. And now you can enjoy freshly baked cookies, fruit, pastries and beverage in the customer lounge located in the middle of the store.   
 
In addition to the mega HD stores, Ridenow has a new 32,000 square foot facility in Surprise devoted to metric bikes of all varieties and off road vehicles including Rhino's, ATV's and watercraft. They also have 6 other large Ridenow stores in Avondale, Chandler, Glendale and Phoenix. These are the huge stores, but you will also find many smaller dealerships throughout the Valley for Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and many others.
 
Those are what we have now, but in addition to the new construction at Chester's and Hacienda there is also a brand new Buddy Stubbs building currently being constructed in Anthem that will feature a 25,000 square foot full functioning location devoted to motorcycle sales, motorclothes, parts and service located on 4 acres of freeway frontage on the West side of I-17 and just South of Anthem Way. There is plenty of space for expansion and will soon feature a Riders Edge Training facility. Buddy Stubbs Anthem is due to open by October of this year. And not only that, there has been the rumor for some time that Harley is going to award a brand new full dealership for the Goodyear/Avondale area. Word is that several existing dealerships have already bought property in the are in hopes of getting awarded the new location.  
 
On the metric side, Ridenow is building a mammoth 110,000 square foot dealership located West of the Loop 101 just North of Thunderbird in Peoria which is the future home of Metro Motorsports. This store will feature a themed presentation of all different types of motorcycles and motorsports vehicles displayed in the environment that they will be used in. I can't wait to see this one which is due to open late summer or early fall of this year. If you are driving down the 101, it is located just South of the baseball fields North of Thunderbird. The walls are already up.
 
Expansion is not only happening in the Phoenix area, Tucson is also doing their part to further the sport. Tucson Harley-Davidson is building a new 67,000 square foot dealership located at I-10 and Ina Rd. which is scheduled to open the end of March. Ridenow Powersports in Tucson is also constructing a new 47,000 square foot facility.
 
Whew! I don't know about you, but that is a lot of square footage devoted to motorcycles. Just in a thumbnail calculation I came up with 265,000 square feet of just Harley-Davidson alone. Add in the Ridenow stores and all of the others, I would think there are over 3/4 of a million square feet of motorcycle retail space in just the Valley area alone. I don't know how that pencils out to the rest of the U.S., but I wouldn't be surprised if we have more per capita than any other major city.
 
But as for me, all of the expansion is really exciting. I never get tired of going through these dealerships and looking at what is new. So the more the merrier. The good news for us is that the more dealerships there are, the more they will have events to bring us to the store, and the more reasons we will have to get the bike out of the garage and take a ride. Be sure and check the Rides and Events calendar on www.cyclerides.com regularly for new upcoming events.
 

I would like to announce that there will be another Cyclerides.com Hearts To Heroes this year. The date is set for Saturday, April 12th. The event will once again be held at Christ's Church of the Valley at 67th Ave. and Happy Valley Rd. and will end at Westgate City Center next to the Dancing Fountains. Westgate has recently installed a new 30 foot giant LCD screen on one of the billboards that we will utilize. We plan to again talk to our troops live via satellite in Iraq with a special guest and are working on a national act for entertainment at Westgate. The theme this year will be honoring our troops that are now serving and welcoming home those that will be returning in March and April after their tours of duty. Please plan to attend and support our armed forces and thank them for their service. Many more details to follow in the next few weeks. If you missed last year's special event you or were there and would like to watch it again, you can purchase the 90 minute DVD for $12 that includes shipping and a ride pin. Click Here to order.

Events This Week 

Next Week 

Wednesday, January 16th
Chester's Harley-Davidson Ladies Only Garage Party. Try this for a New Year's Resolution. Learn To Ride! Chester's Harley-Davidson invites you to our LADIES ONLY Garage Party. Just for ladies who are interested (or not sure) in becoming a new motorcycle rider! The event time is 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Discussions and demonstrations will include:

* Learning to ride with Rider's Edge

* Motorcycle Safety

* Gearing up to ride

* Fitting your motorcycle
* Facility Tour
* Photo op on a Harley
Enjoy Wine, Cheese, Raffles and register for the Grand Prize of a Rider's Edge New Rider Course ($349 value). To register call 480-894-0404 or email mdias@chestershd.com . 

Saturday, January 20th
VFW Riders Thunder Mountain Chapter Spaghetti Dinner. VFW Riders are hosting a spaghetti dinner to raise money for the Fisher House, www.fisherhouse.org and other programs to help veterans and their families. Dinner is from 3-7pm. Cost is $5 per plate. Dinner is at VFW Post 7968 located at 725 W. Apache Trail in Apache Junction, AZ. 480-671-6239. 

Extras 

The Cyclerides.com Classifieds have already sold a lot of bikes. But there doesn't seem to be many parts listed. So as of today, I am making the listing of motorcycle parts and motorclothes FREE! Just put 1234 in both the credit card spot and expiration. So clean out your garage and list your spare parts on the site for free. Motorcycles can still be listed for $10. Click Here for the Classifieds.
 
Here is another in a long line of creative beer commercials. This one is called the "Gas Passer". Click Here to View.
 
Looking for that creative ring tone that will attract attention, especially in an elevator. Check out this commercial for ring tones. Click Here to View.
 
Some of you might have seen this Honda commercial before. It reportedly cost over 6 million dollars to make, over 600 takes to get it filmed right and contains no special effects. It is fascinating. I never tire of watching this one. Click Here to View.
 
This is a video of a ventriloquist named Terry Fator from the show America's Got Talent. The video has had over 5 million views on You Tube. He is the best I have ever seen. Click Here for Video. Click Here for another of Terry doing Wonderful World. This one has had 3.5 million views.