Motorcycle Industry Talk

Generally we like the feedback we get from the site. Unfortunately, we get some strange emails sent in sometimes too. Like the one that bicycle freak Michael K. sent us.

Michael has a website dedicated to his happiness of bicycle riding. This may or may not have something to do with why he can't seem to understand what skulls and wings have to do with motorcycling. He seemed to imply that the use of skulls and wings in the YouMotorcycle logo was "perhaps for your blog to appear "bad ass" enough to entice the "tattoo crowd"?"

Michael, the truth is about to set you free. Skulls and wings have as much to do with motorcycling, as squished manhood and one piece spandex unitards have to do with bicycling. In fact, skulls and wings have been tied to motorcycling for generations already. Allow me to explain...

Like most modern inventions, the development and history of the motorcycle has come a long way in a relatively short space of time. Although the basic design remains the same, its appearances, function and the way it’s used has changed dramatically. To indicate this development in this blog post, we look at a brief visual history of motorcycle design.

I used to think that using sex to sell motorcycles was my biggest motorcycle advertising pet peeve... but it turns out there's something I can't stand even more than that...

This week the YouMotorcycle Team was asked to answer a simple question: Is the move from 250cc to 300cc as the new base model good for the motorcycle industry? Three motorcycle industry experts were asked.

YouMotorcycle is a lifestyle motorcycle blog. If you can't figure out what that means, maybe this snazzy video will help.

Every motorcycle business has something special about it. From the ill-fated motorcycle dealership that would publicly post their customer complaints online along with their own nasty retorts, to the successful dealership with a mechanic who's been working on motorcycles since the 1980s. There's something a little special about the motorcycle industry. Today I came across a tool that really benefits motorcycle dealerships and garages in the service they offer customers. This post shares details about the product, reflects on how far things have come, and shares funny stories from along the way.

I've come the conclusion that you can either love motorcycling, or you can work in the motorcycle industry, but not both.

Maybe there are a few exceptions. Who wouldn’t mind being a journalist flown to Spain on someone else's dime to test ride the latest and greatest new motorcycle at a press launch? I can tell you first hand the media doesn't have it easy, either. I’ve seen journalists braving out freezing cold storms on machines I wouldn’t want to ride anywhere but the track on a warm sunny day. These guys are tough.

Let's get a few facts out there from the very beginning: women in motorcycle advertising have been around forever, they will continue to be, sex sells now as much as ever, this industry is still largely male dominated, and I'm a marketing professional telling you that Mad Men is the most boring television show on the air. Unlike Mad Men, this post features beautiful women, while actually standing up for them, so whatever your gender or orientation you might actually enjoy reading it.

This winter I attended a motorcycle industry pub night. I had the pleasure of sharing tables with family-founded businesses such as KYMCO Canada and Motorcycle Mojo. I spoke with a Triumph marketer about MISSRIDER (once his band was done performing on stage, naturally). At the end of the night, CMG Online’s own Rob Harris and Brenda Cyr gave me a drive home.

Since 2007 I’ve been pushing for a stronger motorcycle riding community. Riders are the YOU in YouMotorcycle. At the pub night it struck me how tightly knit the motorcycle industry is in Canada. Everyone knows everyone. Who they work for may change but the faces stay the same. The industry is a small collection of circles. A passion for motorcycles alone won’t get you in, but you can get in. Here are 10 Ways YOU can Find a Job in the Motorcycle Industry.