I love embargoes on bike news, I mean come on... you are going to pay thousands to market your new bike, tomorrow... why have a cry because some specs were leaked today. Well that is pretty much what happened with the new Kawasaki ZX10R, there was an embargo, Cycleworld Magazine went to print with it and it appeared in news stands a bit earlier than expected (at least that's how I read it) then Hell for Leather Magazine, who have a bloody fantastic website were getting grief for leaking the info... goodness such stress... seems that Kawasaki couldn't have paid for better exposure... hmmm now there's a thought...
It is good to see that other places have as ridiculous legislation as we do, but as is often the case California has taken it one step further, The Governator has just signed SB 435, the "Anti-Tampering Act" so called because it is meant to stop the modifying of factory fitted exhausts, thereby retaining the emissions gear (so it is more hippy crap!? Mad Bike Boy). The upshot is however that you can be fined for excessively loud exhausts, now there is actually already a mandated level for exhaust noise, both factory and aftermarket are technically not meant to exceed 80 decibels however motorcycles have never really been targeted for this sort of infringement.
Ok, I know that concepts are most irritating at the best of times, a manufacturer will release a render, or a sculpture of the coolest looking thing on the face of the planet, everyone says "sweet mother of the apocalypse that is amazing, give me one!" and they bring out another modern/retro/stodgy/pile of the same. This silly concept business has now been extended... Electric Scooter Concepts... from not one but TWO car manufacturers!
I really hate ads, however if a company can put together something that "sells" me a product while at the same time entertaining me, and I mean ENTERTAIN here ad agency guy, not TORTURE, the Armadillo "Tough Enough" ad springs to mine, looks great, things blow up, I am interested in how a guy slides down the road in a hoodie and doesn't get grated etc.
The reason this springs to mind is that I just stumbled across a couple of "viral" (don't get me started! Ed.) video advertisements for 2011 model bikes. One is for Kawasaki's 2011 750R and the other for Ducati's Dorsoduro 750 (and 1200) now I understand that they are in slightly different market segments etc but the difference between the videos is insane.
One is a beautifully shot, well thought out and designed piece of film which makes you (or me at least) think "hmmm that's an interesting new bike, wouldn't mind having a go" the other... is bloody awful, and not in a good way... let me know what you reckon.
