Cyclerides.com Weekly Update
7/7/04
Greetings Riders,
Can you believe this weather we are having? For
those of you that are just moving into the Valley, don't get used too used to this. I have lived here 24 years
and have never seen a better May and June for weather. A hand full of extreme daytime temps and a whole bunch of
mild evenings that make it great for late afternoon or early morning riding. To see lows of 69 degrees
this time of year is incredible. Make some early morning or late afternoon rides while the weather is this
good. You will enjoy.
Have you been wondering what happened to the value of your Harley? A few years ago it used to be that you could buy a Harley, ride it a couple of years, and
pretty much get back what you paid for it in trade-in or even make a few bucks by selling it yourself. Those days are
coming to a grinding halt. But why? The best answer would be supply and demand. The Harley craze that started
in the early 90's was riding a wave of more demand for the motorcycles than they could supply. Some of it probably
contrived and some of it was because the movement to the Harley lifestyle was just beginning and the Motor
Company couldn't keep up. I remember my neighbor camping out at Glendale Harley back in 1994 to order
a new Fat Boy that wouldn't be delivered until 8 months later. It was rare that you could actually walk into
a dealership and purchase a bike off of the floor. Everything was pre sold months in advance. Back then, that was
the norm. There were more buyers than sellers, and like everything else, it drove up the aftermarket prices and added
premiums on the new bikes, which allowed you to get more for your used bike.
Fast forward 10 years and you see that HD
had sales of $4.62 billion for the last year and an average 5 year annual growth rate in revenue of 19%. Harley
expects to deliver 317,000 motorcycles in 2004, compared with 263,653 bikes sold in 2002 and 200,000
bikes in the year 2000. That is a 20% increase in production in the last 2 years, and a 58% increase since the
2000 model year. HD plans to increase production and sell 400,000 machines in the 2007 model year. A full 100%
increase in sales in just 7 years. I know there are more riders every day, but I don't know if there are THAT many.
But those numbers are phenomenal and are a credit to the Harley-Davidson company and the job they have done over
the last 18 years since taking over from AMF. They built a strong brand, cultivated a family of riders proud
to ride a Harley, cultivated a lifestyle of H.O.G. members and literally spawned hundreds of custom motorcycles
to fill the niche that Harley wasn't catering to.
From my perspective, it seems like the Harley market is becoming more like the car market
as production increases and the motorcycles get better. The Fat Boy,
Road King and Sportster models were basically the same bike for several years in a row. There was no real
reason to trade. HD is now becoming more aggressive in styling and more technically advanced in improving
their product to compete with the Japanese bikes. The improvements are coming a lot faster now and appealing
to more people. So instead of hanging on to the same bike for 5 years we are wanting to trade up and take advantage
of the next upgrades, similar to our mindset with cars, which puts more used bikes on the market.
What will happen now? In my opinion, with
the projected increase in production that HD is predicting, the technological increases in the new bikes and the
increased amount miles we are adding to our bikes as we embrace a broader acceptance of the lifestyle, used
bikes will probably be a little softer than what we have been used to. But it is no different than the car market
that we have dealt with forever. Some people protect miles on their cars and motorcycles like they are gold. All
that does is give the next guy a better deal on the bike and you didn't ride as much. We have 25,000 miles on Mrs.
C's 2002 Vrod. Some ask me if that upsets me. I say no! What
upsets me is that it doesn't have 50,000 miles on it. If it
did, we would have had double the enjoyment. I hope you all are rolling up the miles on yours. Here is a good article that goes into
more depth about the marketplace today. This is written from the perspective of the market back East, so everything
will not necessarily translate to Arizona where there is year round riding.
That being said, Mrs. C. and I are planning
on rolling up a few more miles on the Vrod this Summer. We are
planning on riding coast Hwy. #1 from Santa Barbara, CA to Victoria, BC. Then on to Vancouver and up
through Whistler and around to Spences Bridge back to Seattle. If anyone has any tips of what to see, where to go
or where to stay along California, Oregon or Washington, please let me know. info@cyclerides.com . As usual, I
will have plenty of photos and video from the trip.
We now have 60 Riders that have sent in some great pictures for the "Readers Rides" pictorial. If you have a picture with you
and/or your bike next to a sign, a well known part of Americana or a famous landscape of where you have ridden to. For instance, a picture next to the Grand Canyon sign like this, or next to a park sign or any other points of interest that you would like to share with other riders. Include just a little explanation
of where it is and email it to me to be included in the picture page. It
is great fun to look at where other riders have been. Take a look.
Wednesday
The Wild Hare Wednesday Bike Night. Looking for a Bike Night on the East side? Here is a bike night for the East side of town at a really nice location. Stop by and take a look, you will be impressed. It is called The Wild Hare located at 4910 W. Ray Rd. That is the NE Corner of Ray Rd. and Rural Rd. This is a really nice place with a very large outdoor patio. The inside has just been remodeled to double the seating along with adding a DJ, pool tables and games. The Wild Hare has a broad menu including 20 different appetizers, salads, wings, 17 different sandwiches, chicken, filet mignon, burgers and desserts including strawberry cheese cake. There will be food and drink specials that will run during bike night from 6 PM till close. Stop by and take a look, I'm sure you will like what you see. Info: 480-897-6200.
Thursday Night
Thursday Night features 4 Bike Nights all
over the Valley.
Hooters at Arrowhead Bike Night. Ride by and join in on the fun! Hooters will host a Bike Night every Thursday at the Hooters at Arrowhead located just 1 block S. of Bell on 83rd Ave. Stop by for some great food and Hooters Hospitality. There will be 20% off menu items (25% off with Cyclerides.com V.I.P. Card). $2.00 Corona Thursdays and plenty of parking next to the outdoor patio. Stop by for some giveaways and raffles from Hooters and Arrowhead Harley as well as great wings and fun at Hooters. Click Here to see Pictures and all the detailed information.
Casey Jones Grill Bike Night The evening riding weather is good. You
can always count on lots of bikes here. Ride in for what I
call the Best Cheesesteak Sandwich in town. This thing melts in your mouth. They have 3 new pool tables, darts
and foosball. Located in the Mervyns Shopping Center on the SE corner of 43rd Ave. and Thunderbird Rd. Casey Jones
is a great place for a bike night featuring a large outdoor seating and over 150 people inside. And for those of
you that want to watch a sporting event they have 50 TV's scattered throughout the restaurant connected to satellite
to get any game you can think of. They have a full menu for lunch, dinner and a Happy Hour from 11:00AM - 7:00PM
and a reverse happy hour from 10:00PM - 12:00 Midnight. $1.75 domestic bottles and $2.00 Jacks. There are always
a lot of bikes showing up for bike night at Casey Jones Thursday night. Join them for open mic night on Wednesdays.
Sunday.
Hooters
at Ahwatukee Thursday Bike Night. Continues
Giveaways and Raffles. The
riders in Ahwatukee were wanting a Bike Night of their own, so Hooters Ahwatukee stepped up to provide a great
place to come on your motorcycle on Thursday nights. Stop by for raffles, good times and good food at
Hooters in Ahwatukee located at 4804 E. Chandler Blvd. There will be raffles and giveaways from Chandler Harley
and Hooters as well as 20% off menu items (25% off with Cyclerides.com V.I.P. Card). $2.00 Corona Thursdays
and plenty of parking next to the outdoor patio. Click Here for
the pictures and all the details.
The Bike Night At The Billet Bar. Voted
"BEST BIKER BAR IN PHOENIX" by New Times. There is no better
place to watch all the Bikes ride down Scottsdale road than from The Billet Bar Patio. The Billet is ALWAYS packed with bikes Every Day. The new bars front and rear provide spacious seating, fresh air atmosphere, perfect
temperature and courteous staff. The food is amazing and always the latest in cold libations await. You can
sit at the back bar and watch your favorite TV on any of the seven big inch televisions. Play pool, listen to the
latest music and socialize. The front patio seats over 75 people and is perfect for people watching on Scottsdale
Rd. The Billet Bar is located right next to Genesis Custom Cycles on 3752 N. Scottsdale Rd. Check
it out this Thursday night and all weekend long. Info: at 480-941-1876. Click
Here for the New Billet Bar Page with pictures.
Saturday and Sunday
NEW!
Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon. Now opening at 6:00AM for Breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. All of us are looking for that quick getaway out of town for an early morning breakfast on
the weekends, or a good stop on our way up North. The Pioneer Restaurant and Saloon is the perfect place for that and they are inviting
all motorcycle riders to stop by for a good old fashioned breakfast on the patio or a cool drink on the way home.
Sundays feature a $6.99 all you can eat breakfast including drinks and any day you can get my personal favorite
1/2 order of biscuits and gravy for $1.95. This is a great dish. Breakfast starts at 7:00am. Pioneer is also open
for lunch and dinner until 9:00 pm. On Saturday nights Canyon Walls plays from 7pm - 11pm. Pioneer is
also a great place to get your group together for a sunset dinner ride. Sit out on the patio or the air conditioned
dining room. Click Here for the complete menu. If you are organizing a ride, it is the perfect place for a ride end. Pioneer
is located just 1 mile North of the Carefree Highway exit on I-17 at Pioneer Rd. exit 225. For private parties
call Joey at 602-696-5245 or 623-465-1821.
NEW!
Hungry Bear Roadhouse In Mayer. Many of you remember Hailey's Grill in Mayer, AZ. Hailey's went out of business last
fall and the building was purchased by the owners of Grand Canyon Harley and has re-opened as The Hungry Bear Roadhouse.
The Roadhouse has been completely remodeled to provide meeting rooms for motorcycle
groups or any special events. The usable space has now been expanded to the front patio. You can now sit out
on the huge patio and eat your breakfast or lunch and watch the bikes roll in for a weekend ride. There
will be tables and chairs as well as stools next to the railing to relax and enjoy your favorite beverages.
Roadhouse hours are 8:00am - 10:00pm. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner will be served. Stop by the Hungry
Bear on your rides to Prescott. More Info at: 928-632-4211. Saturday July 3rd. The 1st Annual Iron Horse Bike Show. 10am - 2pm. Harley's, Metric
Cruisers, Vintage, European and Sport Bikes.
Sunday
Cocomo Joe's Sunday Bike Day. Live Music Every Sunday from 1:30-4:30pm. Live music is also Thursday - Saturday nights at 8:30pm. Many of you have been to Cocomo Joe's in North Phoenix. There is now a day just for riders. Cocomo Joe's is a very open and comfortable place to hang out that is decorated in a Jamaican theme. They have a new large outdoor patio as well as 2 smaller ones around the side. There is a large dining area with TV's all around to keep up on all NFL football on Sundays. See the pictures here. After football season they will be bringing in live entertainment on Sunday afternoons. There is also 3 pool tables and games for your enjoyment. There will be food and drink specials for ride days starting at 10:30am as well as blocked off preferred parking for motorcycles. The day starts at 10:30am with breakfast foods available. Bike day is from Noon - 6pm. Cocomo Joe's is located on the NW corner of Tatum and Dynamite Rd. So if you are riding to or from Cave Creek, or want to take a ride up North and not have to run the DB gauntlet, stop by Cocomo Joe's. 28244 N. Tatum Blvd. 480-538-8008. Stop by this Sunday for opening day. Click Here for all the details.
Sugar Daddy's Blues Biker Sunday Brunch.
Now is the perfect weather to be sitting out on the Sugar Daddy's patio, listening
to Live Music while dining from the Brunch Menu. And Sunday Brunch Just Got Better! You now have 3 options to choose from. Option #1: Eggs Benedict – Grilled English muffins, smoked ham, poached eggs and hollandaise
sauce.
Served with your chose of fresh fruit or crispy potatoes. ($8) or Sugar’s Pancakes – You won’t eat pancakes anywhere else. Buttermilk pancakes served
with butter and syrup. ($5)
Option #2: Can’t decide what to eat? How about an All-You-Can-Eat buffet for
ONLY $12.
Option #3: Order off our regular menu.
Our 5,000 sq. ft. temperature controlled patio has six air conditioning units, misters, and plenty of shade. Sugar
Daddy's patio, food and entertainment is becoming a regular Sunday stop. If you haven't tried it yet, give
them a try. Complimentary coffee is now served. Make Sugar Daddy's Blues your stop on your ride down Scottsdale
Rd. for Brunch or Lunch from 10am - 5pm. Enjoy live music from 1-6pm Or maybe just relax on the patio with your favorite beverage and enjoy
the beautiful weather and watch the bikes roll down Scottsdale Rd. Click here to see the awesome pictures and details of Sugar Daddy's located at 3102 N. Scottsdale Rd. between Indian
School and Thomas on the West side of the road. Stop by and check it out. A great place to hang out. Plenty of
Bike Parking. If you have suggestions, email them at sugardaddysaz@aol.com . 480-970-6556.
This Week
Saturday, July 10
Chosas's "Pick
A Partner In Store Poker Run". As you can tell, the Harley Dealers are
really getting creative in the Summer Months. What is it you ask? You
and your partner cruise through the store collecting cards and building your winning hand. You must register as
a twosome. So bring a buddy or your significant other. Winning Hand: Couple receives a Chosa's $100 Gift Card.
1st Runner-up: Couple receives a Chosa's $50 Gift Card. Worst Hand: Couple receives a Chosa's $25 Gift Card. Winners
will be announced at approximately 1:30pm. Must be present to win. And when you are done with your in store poker
run, the Hooter's Girls will be serving free refreshments and some Chosa's
Biker BBQ. There will also be raffle prizes throughout the day. Registration
starts at 9am. Chosa's in Mesa is located at 922 S. Country Club Dr. For more information call: 480-894-0404.
Saturday, July 10th
Brothers In The Wind Poker Run, presented
by the Arizona Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs, in conjunction with the Sober Riders MC and the IOOB MC.
Come and meet your Brothers in the Wind and learn how to protect your rights to ride in the State of Arizona. The
run is a 50/50 poker run, cost is $5 per hand and begins at Laverna's Cafe at 220 South Plumer in Tucson,
AZ. This is 1 1/2 blocks south of Broadway on Plummer Ave. Stop's will include the Home Den Lounge, The Mint
Cocktails, The Bashful Bandit, with the final stop being Pepper's Cantina at 950 S. Wilmot Rd. Registration
is from 8:00AM to 10:00AM. Final card must be turned in at 2:00pm at Peppers. Food and spirits available. All riders
are welcome. For further information contact: Termite of the Sober Riders MC at (520) 795-4757, or Guru of
the IOOB MC at (520) 955-2027.
Next Week
Saturday, July 17th
Skunkwork
Monthly Free Seminar. How To Protect Your Ears. This is one of the most important
and most overlooked aspects of riding gear that there is. I see
a large amount of riders out on the open road without ear plugs. I started riding with Ear Plugs 3 years ago and
can't ride without them now. When I didn't wear ear protection I could still hear the wind in my ears hours if
not days after riding. The wind and noise add a level of fatigue that you can totally erase by wearing ear plugs.
I now wear the molded ear plugs that plug into my MP3 player and it is the best of both worlds. To find out
the technical reasons why you should wear ear protection while riding, stop by Skunkwork Motorsports on Saturday,
July 17th for a free seminar presented by T.E.A.M. Arizona and Arizona Ear Protection. There will be hot dogs and
refreshments available at this free seminar. AZ Ear Protection
will be on site to fit you with the molded ear plugs while you wait.
Do yourself a favor, attend this seminar and find out more about protecting your ears and enjoying your ride
even more. Skunkwork is located at 202 W. Main St. in Mesa, AZ. 480-649-2800.
Saturday, July 17th.
Eagles Wing Poker
Run and Christmas In July Co-Sponsored by Grand Canyon Harley in Bellemont
and Toys for Tots. It’s truly poker on the run as participants
visit Designated Sponsor Stops
along a 160 mile route, in search of the best cards to build a perfect hand. It really is poker, and there’s chips
in the kitty. Ride takes off at 9:00 am – staggered release – First Leg -3 hours –Over all - 7hr. limit. High Hand
$600, Low Hand $400. Gather at the Home of the Eagle’s Wing – Grand
Canyon Harley Davidson - for what promises to be the concert event
of the season – featuring the R&R Icons The Georgia Satellites, with special guests, Pure Prophet – A Sunset
finale. (show time 5:45 PM) "After Show parties" $20 advance registration includes poker run and
concert admission. $25 at the door. For more information call: 928-774-3896.
Extras
Happy Camper RV & Cycle Trailer Rentals. If you are planning to trailer your bikes
to Sturgis, Daytona, Four Corners, or other rallies…you will love Happy
Camper RV's enclosed Haulmark Hi-Low motorcycle trailers. Whether your vacation plans are to Yellowstone, Mount
Rushmore, or our local National Parks of Arches, Bryce, Grand Canyon, or Zion's, renting a motorhome, travel trailer,
pop-up tent or cycle trailer from Happy Camper RV will help assure your scenic journey will be one to remember!
Check out Happy Camper RV's website to view their complete inventory of motorhome and trailer rentals. For information,
call 623-322-8401. www.happycamperaz.com.
Warning!! The old Classified Scams are still hot and heavy. Just a reminder. If you have a bike for sale and someone emails you and says that they have
a client that owes them money and they will send you more than you are asking for your bike and to send the excess
funds to his shipping agent, THIS IS A SCAM! They will ask for all your personal information. Don't even waste
your time responding. They will go away.
This is amazing. Here is a video of a guy
that plays the piano on the floor by juggling tennis balls. It is 2mb in size and 2:31 long. He even plays a bit
of God Bless The USA. Watch to the end. He is great. Click Here for Video.
As for me this week, I am going to go exploring and find some new roads, or just revisit
some old favorites. I'll let you know what I find.
Until Next Week,
Blessings and Safe Riding To All,
Barry Caraway
"The Road Is Yours - Take The Ride"
www.cyclerides.com
info@cyclerides.com
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