Month: April 2020

It is no secret that Ford Mustang has been a power player since its birth in 1965. It has built a solid fan base making it the signature car of the Ford’s production line. Over the years, the pony car has become a cultural phenomenon, creating a whole new culture within the industry, the muscle car.

Next year, Ford is breaking its mold by launching a new Mustang Mach E. An electric crossover vehicle that the only thing that they have in common is the name. It is the way of the future. Most of the car manufacturers are moving in the same direction and Ford is no exception. But messing with the legacy of the Ford Mustang Muscle car is no laughing matter. The New Mach E is all of what the Mustang is not. It is an electric crossover with a lot of high-tech options while the original version has always been a sports car, rough on the edges with a simple structure.

Every company needs to maintain the market trends and evolve with time. It is a race to the gate to put the best new concept out there. But changing the winning formula of your product is a very delicate subject.

I have admire Ford when adding the Shelby name to different products other than Mustang, like the F-150 Shelby. It’s cool. It’s breath taking. It sells! But taking the biggest name of the Ford Motor Company and swapping it around to other models doesn’t cut it for me. The Mustang should stay as a muscle car, period. It could be gas or electric, but it should stay in the same product line to continue its legacy.

As simple as it sounds, I do get this question quite often… Why buy a Harley? Harley Davidson Motor Company has been in operation since 1903. They have come a long way in creating the standard for the motorcycle industry. Due to its success, more and more competitors have jumped in to take a piece of the pie. We have seen the resurrection of Indian motorcycles, the birth of sports bikes, dual purpose motorcycles, you name it.

The truth of the matter is that most of these companies have gone way ahead in making their product more advance in technology and more appealing to the younger crowd. This past year, Harley Davidson created new models to keep up with the competition, including the birth of the electric motorcycle, the LiveWire Motorcycle.

I’ve been curious and test ride a couple of them. Triumph, BMW, Honda, Indian, Yamaha. All of them are great bikes. BMW’s and Triumph are way ahead in technology while Yamaha and Honda are more attractive in price. But, why Harley then?

Harley Davidson is the most iconic brand in the motorcycle industry. It has created a loyalty within their customer base hard to overcome by any of its competitors. I have never seen a logo of BMW or any brand of motorcycle tattooed to the skin of a customer. Talk about commitment!

No motorcycle dealer or distributor come close to the service the Harley Davidson dealers offer to its fan base. They pamper clients as they walk through their door. It doesn’t matter if you are coming to buy a new motorcycle, service your bike, purchase some souvenirs. They treat you as family as you come to the door. Once you are in their data base, they go out of the ordinary to keep you informed in extracurricular activities, special sale events, gatherings, motorcycle runs. As you purchase your first motorcycle, you become a part of a family called H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group). Extracurricular activities are planned, friends are made. The quantity of dealership across the United States is unmatched. As a result, touring bikers can rely with great support while traveling nationwide. It is like having a family relative anywhere you go.

At the end, it has to come down to the final product and Harley Davidson have been making great motorcycles since their birth in a shack in Milwaukee. They have been pushing the envelope by creating a reliable and unique motorcycle. The engine that revolutionized an era, the sound that defined generations…. It has been about not just the ride, but a way of life.

“A picture is worth a thousand words”……… Indeed!!!!

While the entire world is on its knees dealing with the Coronavirus Pandemic, each one of us is trying to stay safe, take care of our families and keep our sanity. These last couple of years have been rough for some of us. From hurricanes and earthquakes we come down to a this 100 year outbreak. The year 2020 has come to show us all the things we have taken for granted in our day to day life. Well, hold on tight!!! It is going to be a funky ride for those of “us” who get thru this.

Motorcycles become clothes lines. Our leaders try to find desperately a solution that can cover the lack of planning and preparation of a silent war that invaded the heart of our country; our houses, ourselves. Some of us look for different sources for advice that can guide us throughout this confinement. Some experts say: Reframe “I am stuck inside” to “I can finally focus on my home and myself”. I can’t agree more.” Let’s make chicken salad out of chicken shit!!” No riding, no problem. Plan!

It’s been 2 years since my last riding. I have done some local riding, of course. Biketoberfest, beach rides in Puerto Rico, Forth of July in St. Pete Beach. They are great rides, that feed the rider’s soul to tackle the day to day headaches of life. But nothing like jumping on your iron horse for a cross country ride you have planned for quite some time. So let’s plan until this corona-shit goes away.

My starting point it’s going to be the Arizona Motorcycle and Towing Storage, the home of My Ladie for the last 2 years. This year I have turned “half-a-century”, so this ride has to be special! It should include Sturgis for heavens sake!!

The plan is to arrive Phoenix before noon, so I have time to pick up the motorcycle and squeeze a short ride for the day. Get on Route 60 to have the last glimpse of Phoenix to my first stop to the city of Congress for a short stop, since Trip Advisor gives you one and one only thing to do……..

Another hour ride, Route 89 for the second pit stop, Prescott. Now we are talking. I have a good cigar smoking buddy, Thomas Schmitz (puertorrican believe it or not!) that suggested a run thru his old college town. Prescott is know for its Historic Downtown, music and vibe. It should be o.k. for a good hour or two visit, check the scenery of Watson Lake and keep the route to my first night in Sedona.

Route 89A takes me right to the heart and soul of the Arizona mountains. A lot of scenic views on the way to my first stop for the day. Places like Jerome, Red Rock State Park, The Chapel of the Holy Cross are a most see before arriving to the final destination for the day.