IN
THE
WIND
P32
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
DROPS OUT OF
INDONESIA
A
possible emerging market
has gone begging for Har-
ley-Davidson, with the Jakarta
Post reporting the marque's only
Indonesian dealer, PT Mabua
Harley-Davidson, has let its
agency license expire, citing a
weakening Indonesian currency
and unsupportive government
regulations.
The company will still con-
tinue to supply spare parts and
service for the "the next several
months."
"The total amount of
taxes for importing a
big bike has increased
by up to 300 percent.
This has not yet included the
costs involved in making license
plates and certificates. Those
factors have caused the mar-
ket to lose interest," PT Mabua
Harley-Davidson President
Director Djonnie Rahmat said in
a statement.
The news is most unwelcome
for not just Harley-Davidson, but
many other large capacity manu-
facturers marketing in Indonesia,
a country that has long favored
small capacity machines for a
large population with a compara-
tively small disposable income
compared to many western
markets. CN
No more Harley for the time
being in Indonesia.
YAMAHA DT MAY COME BACK!
Y
amaha's iconic DT range might make a re-
appearance in the market under Yamaha's
Sport Heritage Family lineup.
According to Yamaha Europe Product Manager
and Supervisor Shun Miyazawa, a new DT would
fulfill one area of the retro market currently un-
served by the Japanese manufacturers. Miyazawa
was instrumental in creating the FZ-07/09 and
XJR1300 range, all of which have been big sellers
for Yamaha (except the XJR in the States, as we
don't get that model).
Sadly though, it is highly unlikely the new
DT will indeed be a two-stroke, as all Sport
Heritage bikes use the four-stroke engine
platform. A possible engine candidate could
be the SR400 single—itself a reincarnation
of a Yamaha classic, which pumps out 23
horsepower.
The DT is still a highly prized bike in clas-
sic circles if in good condition (which is rare,
we might add), and a new version of the clas-
sic dirt machine would indeed put Yamaha
ahead of fellow Japanese manufacturers
Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki in the retro dirt
bike market. CN
Come on
Yamaha! Bring
this great classic
back to life!
