H-D Flat Track Woes Continue ... Or Does/Should It Matter?
#11
05-14-2017, 08:15 PM
Grand HDF Member
Harley shelved the XR750 because they were getting spanked the last couple years by Kawasaki. They are trying to develop the XG750 but so far it's a dog! Then Indian comes up with a very fast race bike, hires the TOP THREE riders in the sport, and is dominating so far. The Indian is fast, but to be truthful, Smith, Mees, and Baker could win on anything. They're just the best in the business right now. Sammy Halbert has been hanging with them, but he has to ride over the limit sometimes to do so. Harley will get things turned around. They're too proud, and have at times kept the sport alive, to not get back on track soon. The Harley factory riders right now.....Coolbeth, Johnson, and Robinson are very talented riders, and to see them struggling at the back of the pack tells me that those XG750's still need a lot of work. i almost feel sorry for those guys because you can tell they are frustrated with the bikes.
I've been involved in flat track racing since the early '60's. It's been a passion of mine my whole life. I've had the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the greatest ever. Bart Markel, George Roeder, Sammy Tanner, Gary Nixon, Dick Mann, Gary and Hank Scott, Corky Keener, Kenny Roberts, Dave Aldana, Jay Springsteen, Scott Parker, Chris Carr, Steve Morehead, Geo and Jess Roeder, Ricky Graham, and many, many more. I've seen way too many riders lose their lives racing. Way too many.
Flat track is a cruel sport. There have been three riders killed in the last 5 races.
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/...otor-speedway/
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/tw...anta-rosa-mile
I've been involved in flat track racing since the early '60's. It's been a passion of mine my whole life. I've had the opportunity to meet and talk with some of the greatest ever. Bart Markel, George Roeder, Sammy Tanner, Gary Nixon, Dick Mann, Gary and Hank Scott, Corky Keener, Kenny Roberts, Dave Aldana, Jay Springsteen, Scott Parker, Chris Carr, Steve Morehead, Geo and Jess Roeder, Ricky Graham, and many, many more. I've seen way too many riders lose their lives racing. Way too many.
Flat track is a cruel sport. There have been three riders killed in the last 5 races.
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/...otor-speedway/
http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/tw...anta-rosa-mile
Last edited by hd4evr2008; 05-15-2017 at 07:54 AM.
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#12
05-14-2017, 08:44 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
#13
05-14-2017, 09:03 PM
Road Warrior
Win on Sunday, sell on Monday; was the proven mantra of Detroit and the big 3 for many years with respect to NASCAR. If MOCO is serious about attracting young people to the brand, they need to promote their victories, if they get some.
Remember walking into Yamaha dealer in the '70's? First thing you saw was a huge poster of Kenny Roberts with the #1 plate on the yellow and black. Look at Subaru. Subaru used to be known as the car of choice for tree huggers. Subie started sponsoring and developing cars for ralley racing - bingo, Subies are now cool with young crowd.
I heard from a young flat track racer the Harley ran out of cranks last year after so many broke.
MOCO wants to attract younger riders? What's the first you see walking into a dealership - a studded out Heritage. What MOCO needs, IMO, is a big ol' poster someone with the #1 plate on the orange and black and a new tracker replica on the floor. Indian put the R&D $$$$'s into a flat track specific motor, MOCO needs to step up.
Remember walking into Yamaha dealer in the '70's? First thing you saw was a huge poster of Kenny Roberts with the #1 plate on the yellow and black. Look at Subaru. Subaru used to be known as the car of choice for tree huggers. Subie started sponsoring and developing cars for ralley racing - bingo, Subies are now cool with young crowd.
I heard from a young flat track racer the Harley ran out of cranks last year after so many broke.
MOCO wants to attract younger riders? What's the first you see walking into a dealership - a studded out Heritage. What MOCO needs, IMO, is a big ol' poster someone with the #1 plate on the orange and black and a new tracker replica on the floor. Indian put the R&D $$$$'s into a flat track specific motor, MOCO needs to step up.
#15
05-15-2017, 08:06 AM
Grand HDF Member
Win on Sunday, sell on Monday; was the proven mantra of Detroit and the big 3 for many years with respect to NASCAR. If MOCO is serious about attracting young people to the brand, they need to promote their victories, if they get some.
Remember walking into Yamaha dealer in the '70's? First thing you saw was a huge poster of Kenny Roberts with the #1 plate on the yellow and black. Look at Subaru. Subaru used to be known as the car of choice for tree huggers. Subie started sponsoring and developing cars for ralley racing - bingo, Subies are now cool with young crowd.
I heard from a young flat track racer the Harley ran out of cranks last year after so many broke.
MOCO wants to attract younger riders? What's the first you see walking into a dealership - a studded out Heritage. What MOCO needs, IMO, is a big ol' poster someone with the #1 plate on the orange and black and a new tracker replica on the floor. Indian put the R&D $$$$'s into a flat track specific motor, MOCO needs to step up.
Remember walking into Yamaha dealer in the '70's? First thing you saw was a huge poster of Kenny Roberts with the #1 plate on the yellow and black. Look at Subaru. Subaru used to be known as the car of choice for tree huggers. Subie started sponsoring and developing cars for ralley racing - bingo, Subies are now cool with young crowd.
I heard from a young flat track racer the Harley ran out of cranks last year after so many broke.
MOCO wants to attract younger riders? What's the first you see walking into a dealership - a studded out Heritage. What MOCO needs, IMO, is a big ol' poster someone with the #1 plate on the orange and black and a new tracker replica on the floor. Indian put the R&D $$$$'s into a flat track specific motor, MOCO needs to step up.
If they get some??? The Harley Davidson XR750 has won more races than just about any other machine in whatever form of racing you could think of. Except for Honda's winning for a few years in the '80's, starting in 1970, the XR750 was THE bike of choice if you wanted to win in flat track. Before that it was the KR's.
Count up the GNC Championships that Harley Davidson has won.......sadly, most guys riding Harleys don't have a clue that Harley races flat track! Heck, most of the DEALERS don't even know!
AMA Flat Track Grand National Champions
Rider
2016 Bryan Smith (Kawasaki)
2015 Jared MEES (Harley-Davidson)
2014 Jared MEES (Harley-Davidson)
2013 Brad Baker (Harley-Davidson)
2012 Jared MEES (Harley-Davidson)
2011 Jake JOHNSON (Harley-Davidson)
2010 Jake JOHNSON (Harley-Davidson)
2009 Jared MEES (Harley-Davidson)
2008 Ken COOLBETH (Harley-Davidson)
2007 Ken COOLBETH (Harley-Davidson / Honda)
2006 Ken COOLBETH (Harley-Davidson / Honda)
2005 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson / KTM)
2004 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson / Rotax / KTM)
2003 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson / Rotax / VOR)
2002 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson / Rotax / ATK / VOR)
2001 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson / Rotax / ATK)
2000 Joe KOPP (Harley-Davidson)
1999 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson)
1998 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1997 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1996 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1995 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1994 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1993 Ricky GRAHAM (Honda)
1992 Chris CARR (Harley-Davidson)
1991 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1990 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1989 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1988 Scott PARKER (Harley-Davidson)
1987 Bubba SHOBERT (Honda)
1986 Bubba SHOBERT (Honda)
1985 Bubba SHOBERT (Honda)
1984 Ricky GRAHAM (Honda)
1983 Randy GOSS (Harley-Davidson)
1982 Ricky GRAHAM (Harley-Davidson)
1981 Mike KIDD (Harley-Davidson / Yamaha)
1980 Randy GOSS (Harley-Davidson)
1979 Steve EKLUND (Harley-Davidson / Yamaha)
1978 Jay SPRINGSTEEN (Harley-Davidson)
1977 Jay SPRINGSTEEN (Harley-Davidson)
1976 Jay SPRINGSTEEN (Harley-Davidson)
1975 Gary SCOTT (Harley-Davidson)
1974 Kenny ROBERTS (Yamaha)
1973 Kenny ROBERTS (Yamaha)
1972 Mark BRELSFORD (Harley-Davidson)
1971 Dick MANN (BSA)
1970 Gene ROMERO (Triumph)
1969 Mert LAWWILL (Harley-Davidson)
1968 Gary NIXON (Triumph)
1967 Gary NIXON (Triumph)
1966 Bart MARKEL (Harley-Davidson)
1965 Bart MARKEL (Harley-Davidson)
1964 Roger REIMAN (Harley-Davidson)
1963 Dick MANN (BSA / MAT)
1962 Bart MARKEL (Harley-Davidson)
1961 Carroll RESWEBER (Harley-Davidson)
1960 Carroll RESWEBER (Harley-Davidson)
1959 Carroll RESWEBER (Harley-Davidson)
1958 Carroll RESWEBER (Harley-Davidson)
1957 Joe LEONARD (Harley-Davidson)
1956 Joe LEONARD (Harley-Davidson)
1955 Brad ANDRES (Harley-Davidson)
1954 Joe LEONARD (Harley-Davidson)
KR750 Harley (my uncle raced one of these)
XR750 Harley
And what the factory HD guys are struggling with now (so far it's been a dog).....
XG750
Last edited by hd4evr2008; 05-15-2017 at 08:20 AM.
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#16
05-15-2017, 11:24 AM
Banned
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#17
05-15-2017, 12:44 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
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#18
05-15-2017, 12:59 PM
Grand HDF Member
The factory Yamaha's were 4 stroke 650cc twins bored out to 750cc.
KR on the TZ750....
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#19
05-15-2017, 01:08 PM
Banned
You're thinking of the TZ750. 4 cylinder two stroke from the road race bike. Kenny Roberts won the 1975 Indy Mile on it, then said afterwards "they don't pay me enough to ride this thing!"
The factory Yamaha's were 4 stroke 650cc twins bored out to 750cc.
KR on the TZ750....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k8hJWKIVNs
The factory Yamaha's were 4 stroke 650cc twins bored out to 750cc.
KR on the TZ750....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8k8hJWKIVNs
#20
05-15-2017, 01:15 PM
Grand HDF Member
Win on Sunday, sell on Monday; was the proven mantra of Detroit and the big 3 for many years with respect to NASCAR. If MOCO is serious about attracting young people to the brand, they need to promote their victories, if they get some.
Remember walking into Yamaha dealer in the '70's? First thing you saw was a huge poster of Kenny Roberts with the #1 plate on the yellow and black. Look at Subaru. Subaru used to be known as the car of choice for tree huggers. Subie started sponsoring and developing cars for ralley racing - bingo, Subies are now cool with young crowd.
I heard from a young flat track racer the Harley ran out of cranks last year after so many broke.
MOCO wants to attract younger riders? What's the first you see walking into a dealership - a studded out Heritage. What MOCO needs, IMO, is a big ol' poster someone with the #1 plate on the orange and black and a new tracker replica on the floor. Indian put the R&D $$$$'s into a flat track specific motor, MOCO needs to step up.
Remember walking into Yamaha dealer in the '70's? First thing you saw was a huge poster of Kenny Roberts with the #1 plate on the yellow and black. Look at Subaru. Subaru used to be known as the car of choice for tree huggers. Subie started sponsoring and developing cars for ralley racing - bingo, Subies are now cool with young crowd.
I heard from a young flat track racer the Harley ran out of cranks last year after so many broke.
MOCO wants to attract younger riders? What's the first you see walking into a dealership - a studded out Heritage. What MOCO needs, IMO, is a big ol' poster someone with the #1 plate on the orange and black and a new tracker replica on the floor. Indian put the R&D $$$$'s into a flat track specific motor, MOCO needs to step up.