The motorcycle industry

[NONONO]

Just so like Honda, reliable. Don't know about the others, I mean Harely have enough problems on their hands like finacial problems in America and flogging off Buell to worry about our small nation.

Can't agree with that, sorry.
I was at the Harley rally in Wellington earlier this year. Huge turn out.
Harley have a decent presence in NZ, it's a not insignificant market compared to other Oceania/Asiatic volumes, with a flow on to close market influence.
Harley could front up via AMPS and Wellington and Hamilton (not sure about volume sales in the mainland).
As for Buell, well....you jump into bed with the boss, guess what, you get fucked.

[McJim]

Sez the man who won't ride to Kopara cos he doesn't want to put too many miles on his Doo-kahtee.

Why thank 'ee kindly sir. You were indeed the trout I was a-fishin' for and you took your merry time. Some other Harley rider took needless offence in the meantime.

What is happening just now in the New Zealand market won't even be a blip on the radar of the big Jap 4, HD or the Italians. Hyosung might say something though since a sizeable chunk of their product is winding up on our shores.

The importers and distributors should be doing something about it (unless of course they are diversifying into scrap-booking or somat else with a future.) But their response is probaby "What can we buy with a 124.5cc engine in it?"

They will adapt as will the market. Who knows? We might just win.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

It over all hasn't been thought through that clearly... if they tax us off the road, the government would be loosing out on in just the ACC but in GST... Less bikes on the road same number of accidents and claims

Over all Less bikes, less money spent on bikes, less maintenance, repairs and replacements, less tyres and oil, less bike gear and accessories bein sold. All this means less GST for the government.

The number of business that would start to struggle, who already are due to the recession. and the layoffs some of the bike shops will do starting withe sales and then mechanics, who now go on the dole...

ACC will still have the same number of dirt bike accidents and claims same number of farm bike quad bike claims...

[Mystic13]

So we are riding on parliament, we have signed petitions, visited our MP's offices, written to our MP's, submitted our objections to ACC, held rallies, gained support from the labour party, have other protest rides planned, have created flags, banners, Hi-Viz vests and posters protesting our plight and been very visible in our objections but what is missing.................

Anything visible from the motorcycle industry!!!!!!!
Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda, Triumph, Harley Davidson, Hyosung, BMW, KTM etc where are you?
Harley........you dont have a bike under 600cc, this is going to knock heaps of the value of your whole range if this goes through!!
All the rest.........be seen to be doing something, this is going to have a direct effect on each and every one of you.

lol... were you looking for them to wear Hi-Viz vests, stand outside their premises with placards, posting on forums complaining to riders about how tough it'll be.

There is no doubt they'll be unhappy and pushing hard to be heard in their way.

[Mystic13]

When all of this hit the fan, the first few stories to hit the press were all from bike shops from memory.

Personally I kind of think they have bike shops because they love bikes as well. On that basis they're kindred so my thoughts are rather than taking time and energy to take raise questions about them we should instead focus on the real problem.

Some half baked bureaucrat who is clearly anti bikes but even worse now that he's been shown to have made mistakes rather than man up has chosen the "I'll defend the numbers with my last breath routine"... This sort of bureaucrat needs to be taken out the back and given a good beating. (Onle because firing isn't an option).

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Some half baked bureaucrat who is clearly anti bikes but even worse now that he's been shown to have made mistakes rather than man up has chosen the "I'll defend the numbers with my last breath routine"... This sort of bureaucrat needs to be taken out the back and given a good beating. (Onle because firing isn't an option).

And the media follow these numbers and stat and keep quoting them and don't listen or look at them themself of say but wait something doesn't add up...

we need the media to start to question it

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

lol... were you looking for them to wear Hi-Viz vests, stand outside their premises with placards, posting on forums complaining to riders about how tough it'll be.

There is no doubt they'll be unhappy and pushing hard to be heard in their way.

Any Viz anything would be good!

All we have seen or heard in the media has been motorcyclists objecting, motorcycle clubs objecting, motorcycle organisations objecting. What hasn't been seen objecting are Motorcycle manufacturers, suppliers and dealers.

I'm not bagging them, far from it. I am genuinely concerned that if we dont have as larger profile of objections as possible this is going to go through.
I understand that 'behind the scenes' they are doing something and really appreciate the efforts they are going to but how do you think it looks to the biking population and the general public that the motorcycle industry is keeping such a low profile publicly?

Of course money is tight, but it will become alot bloody tighter for them if this levy goes ahead! Money is tight for everyone, its not stopping hopefully thousands of people taking time of work to ride on parliament in two weeks.

What can they do?....... put in collectively for large adverts in the popular press, request interviews with the media, tv, radio.
It just feels like its the 'motorcyclist' doing all the objecting at the moment.

[phred]

Unfortunately most of the industry is doing what it can to survive a Winter of global recession.

The recession will get worse for them if ACC and Nashnul get their way That should be motivation forn them.

[martybabe]

I'm not bagging them, far from it. I am genuinely concerned that if we dont have as larger profile of objections as possible this is going to go through.
I understand that 'behind the scenes' they are doing something and really appreciate the efforts they are going to but how do you think it looks to the biking population and the general public that the motorcycle industry is keeping such a low profile publicly?

.

Absolutely seconded, no-one here is bagging the industry or dealers, make no mistake we know who the common enemy is here but I certainly don't think it's out of order to say look guys, this is what we're doing to try and save motorcycling in this country and to politely ask are you on board, are you being pro active and if so what are you doing. Give us a sign that we're not alone here please.

[DMNTD:Me]

Give us a sign that we're not alone here please.

[k2w3]

Oh Christ, next someone will post a Michael Jackson video link.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Oh Christ, next someone will post a Michael Jackson video link.

Hes not dead you know I saw him yesterday at KFC

[Big Dave]

From the press release:

“We will be making strong representations on behalf of motorcyclists and moped riders with an emphasis on taking positive measures to reduce moped and motorcycle accidents rather than just unfairly penalising New Zealanders who choose to use a fuel efficient form of transport which improves commuter efficiency and reduces pressure on the need for more urban vehicle parking spaces.”

This is more effective use of limited funds than giving signs.

They may well engage the media later in the fight.

[martybabe]

[CENTER]

Coool.

[The Stranger:Me]

This is more effective use of limited funds than giving signs.

The signs need not be expensive Dave.
Gestures (signs) made now are likely to be remembered later, that's the way it works. That's one reason you have bought many a machine form one dealer and I another. They build loyalty and support.

Would not a co-ordinated approach be preferable? Arguments consistent, information shared, resources pooled?