CN
III VOICES
W H A T Y O U A R E S A Y I N G
"…no longer ride myself, but when a Ducati goes by
on the local roads, revving, well then, I dream."
Archives:
Brett Metzger
One of the wettest, wildest
and longest AMA Superbike
races I ever attended, with one
of the strangest, hardest and
most controversial outcomes
that I have ever witnessed. Not
to mention the longest 600
Supersport race in the history
of the sport.
Mike Stuhler
I remember him well. Great trip
again, Larry!
Cory Stem
Lowside: Pulling Teeth
I read with interest Wade
McQueen's letter. So much
truth in that. I have been a
motorcycle enthusiast since I
learned to walk. I've had many
motorcycles of all types and
sizes. At the age of 40, my
wife and I sold our house and
purchased a motorcycle busi-
ness, living in a flat above the
showroom and workshop. Over
the next 15 years or so we built
up a really nice business, had
many friends who were repeat
customers, and basically had
a very happy life. The profit on
a new Suzuki motorcycle was
around 17 percent, but not on
the whole price! There was
no discount on the delivery
charges, vehicle taxes, value
added tax and other sundry
items—only on a very low and
basic price.
The actual machine, if sold
at any form of discounted
price, was basically sold at a
loss. The profit came from fi-
nance charges, insurances and
articles like clothing, helmets,
gloves, plus any extras to be
added to the basic machine.
We were happy with the way
things were going; it was
more like a biker's club than
a dealer's shop. But we had
expenses, mechanics wages,
electricity, water, rents, busi-
ness insurances and tools, of
course, ever more expensive
and specialized to each new
model.
But we made money on tires,
chains, sprockets and repairs
sometimes but not that often,
as finding a fault in electronics
could take ages and the repair
very simple, for example.
But we loved it all and even
sponsored a couple of local
lads in road racing at club level,
preparing and repairing bikes at
our expense after hours.
Then came the internet
suppliers, cutting our income
to the very basics. It was quite
usual for someone to bring in
a tire or chain and sprockets,
etc. for us to fit. Items that
they had bought via the net.
Many were upset when we
surcharged the fitting of such
items, but the mechanics had
to be paid. Over a couple of
years it just got worse.
So at one moment I decided
that we had done enough, it
was no longer a pleasure. We
took a year but closed up.
We went on doing bar work,
working on campsites, cleaning
toilets and so on. We actually
earned more money and had
no hassle from warranty work,
taxman and so on. We had time
to go watch road racing even.
Now aged 77 and retired, we
live in Spain, the new home of
motorcycling, almost. (Spon-
sorship available so many
Spanish riders in racing at all
levels).
Still love my motorcycles, no
longer ride myself, but when
a Ducati goes by on the local
roads, revving, well then, I
dream.
Bran Williamson
Jared Mees
If Jared Mees and his crew
weren't fired up enough for this
year—since his DQ—they seem
more determined than ever;
same thing with Marc Marquez
in MotoGP.
Motorcycle racing is so
regulated these days; it's the
guys with the most skill and the
strongest mental attitude that
win races.
I would not be surprised to
see either one of them (Mees
and Kenny Coolbeth) win the
rest of the races in the series.
PS: The Peoria TT ought to
be interesting this year.
Leslie D'Amico
Letters to the editor can be sent to voices@cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Letters
should not exceed 150 words and are subject to editing. Anonymous letters won't be considered for publication and each letter should
contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number… Editor
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