Top Ten Trends For 2011

With 2010 nearing its date with Dead Man's Curve, we at Chrome Asylum thought it the perfect time to introduce our very first "Top Ten" list. Historical moment, inflection point.........a big bloody deal fellow Chromies!! Why ten you ask, not nine or even a bonus eleven? Can't say, slaves to convention, lack imagination........or maybe we've snuck one too many peeks at People magazine while visiting Doc Painless the dentist. Dunno, let's just be thankful we can even count that high...........

1) We've found the bottom, and it stung like a son-of-a-bitch. The steep collapse  in new unit motorcycle sales is over; 2011 should be a year of stabilizing sales with some categories actually seeing some modest increases. ATV's and small displacement machines will do well, as will Harley Davidson. Luckily for HD, us oldsters still have a couple of bucks left to try and buy back our youth. The other OE's will lag, but all should see improvements over 2010.

2) Hybrid/Electric bikes will continue to fuel interest. No matter where you come down on this issue, these new age machines are going to continue to have an impact, especially in urban areas, and with younger riders. Expect scooters and smaller machines to be the largest sellers. Commuters and students will be the primary buyers. Long term market success of these "appliances" is dependent mostly on improving battery life.

3) Harley Davidson thinks big, goes small. The Motor Company wants youthful buyers, and it will not be denied. And hookin' 'em young (as any tobacco exec will tell you) means extending the brand. Look for a kinda "Buell Blast" machine, small frame, small displacement, and low price.......with hopefully waaaay better build quality. This could be huge, and you got the scoop at the Asylum my brother.

4) This land is your land, this land is the Fed's land. Look for even more battles over land closure, with more losses than wins unfortunately. The Peoples Republic of Kalifornia could be especially vulnerable with the second coming of Governor Moonbeam. The loonie left wants the public off of public lands, for good, end of story. And if you think the "environmental" movement has anything at all to do with saving the environment; ah, I'm so pissed now, I can't even come up with a decent metaphor. Wake up!

5) Patches, we gotta have our stinking patches. Sorry to say that the seemingly endless proliferation of patch clubs will continue unabated. Used to be, there weren't many of 'em, and it was pretty, uh, difficult to become a member. And that's how it was supposed to be. But noooo, not any more.....all you need is two yahoos, a lame-ass logo, and presto!, we've got us a motorbike club. Jeez......it's like everyone gets a participation ribbon. Puke.

6) This "worldwide web" thing is starting to catch on. On-line sales of parts, accessories and clothing will continue to increase at decent clip. This is especially true given the "rough go" the mom-and-pops have had with this Great Recession, simply no dough to stock the shelves. The good news for the locals is, if they make the commitment to be there for the customer, they will survive and thrive. So give that guy down the road a shot at your bidness...........hands off the mouse pal!!

7) Tricker, cheaper lids. Used to be, you'd have to spend cubic yards of coin for a good helmet. Not any more my friend. Thanks to our good friends in China (I think the only thing they don't build there is Americans.......but count on that changing too in the future) you can get an awesome lid for little more than a C-note. Watch for more "flip-up" models, Bluetooth capabilities, better light sensitive visors, and here's something I think would be especially nifty, programmable LED's in the back of the helmet that act as a second brake light via remote wireless activation..........oh yeah!!

8) Shut up, I can't hear my I-pod. Sound, as in that coming from your exhaust is going to be the issue for street riders, especially those of us that like our Harley's to have a bit more aggressive tone than say, your average Dyson vacuum (yes, I see you Mr. Metric rider jumping up in the back...."me too, me too, I like loud pipes".......whatever, you don't count). With the Governator signing Senate Bill 435 into law, which will require an EPA stamp on all exhaust systems installed on 2013 model and later motorcycles, we're entering a new era of targeted enforcement, sky high pricing for replacement systems.........and the very real prospect that this half-baked "solution" will one day be the law of the land nationally. This is the very worst of anti-motorcycling legislation........and it is a law that I never intend to obey.......who's with me!!

9) DWD will kill more of us than ever. This is an issue we've covered before here at Chrome Asylum, that of the, dare I utter it, "epidemic" of distracted driving. All jokes aside, this one is f'n scary. It was easy to target the drunks, the druggies.......and we actually made some real progress. Not that folks were any less wasted mind you, they just tended to drive less while under the influence. All in all, a pretty good thing. But this distracted driving deal is a whole different bag of whiskers.....if for no other reason than everyone does it!! Who gets to be the face on the PSA billboards; soccer moms that serve on the PTA, teach Sunday school, and donate blood every month? The local off-duty fireman that coaches little league? It's a PR nightmare......and it's coming up on your ass at an alarming clip.

10) My affection for the Motor Company will go unrequited for yet another year.......sob. Try as I might to breach the walls on Juneau Ave., Milwaukee extends a frosty shoulder....but will I relent? Hell no! At least not until they file a restraining order........come to think of it, not sure I'd want to be a part of any organization that would actually have me as a member........but then again.....

There you have it.......take notes and we'll compare in a year, if I get less than five right, I owe you a beer, more than five, and you're buyin'.........I'm thinkin' you ought to start saving your dough.