2017- A Look Back

 

2017 was an eventful year in American motorcycling. Reflecting over the previous 12 months, clearly much has transpired in the two-wheeled world. Its been both exciting and discouraging. There were a great many stories from 2017 in motorcycling, but these are a few of the ones I most readily remember-

The Demise of Victory Motorcycles- After 17 years, Polaris scuttled the Victory line, a JD Power & Associates quality-leading motorcycle brand. The move shocked the industry, and those of us in moto-journalism. The move was understandable, with Polaris planning to focus greater efforts on the highly successful Indian line, but I was stunned, nonetheless.
*Oh, and within weeks, Erik Buell Racing shut down operations...again.

The Death of Nicky Hayden- One of America's great motorcycle racers, Nicky was beloved the world over, not just here in the States. The "Kentucky Kid" was an AMA Flat Track champion, AMA SuperBike champ, and 2006 MotoGP World Champion. His cycling accident and sudden death in Rimini, Italy horrified the motorcycling world, as millions grieved his passing. I personally sat and wept at the news. Nicky will be sorely missed.

Harley Davidson's Sweeping Changes- Late summer, H-D announced and debuted radical changes in their lineup, dropping the venerable Dyna line completely after 27 years. The all-new Softail line saw several Dyna models redesigned and dovetailed in, as well as some brand new models- most notably, the Fat Bob, all with the new "Milwaukee Eight" powerplant. I had opportunity to ride a couple of them, the Heritage and Road King, and was very impressed.

American Flat Track & MotoAmerica- AFT exploded in popularity in its first year away from the AMA, and MotoAmerica dramatically expanded its reach in its 4th season. I'm very glad both are back, and I hope these signal a revival of interest in American motorcycle racing.
*Interesting note- the most talked-about American motorcycle of 2017 wasn't even a production bike- the Indian FTR1200, a factory-modified Scout based on their highly successful (and AFT-winning) flat track racer.

The Revival of Retro- All the major brands have trotted out spectacular bikes combining modern amenities with retro (60s-80s era) styling. BMW's RnineT bikes, Triumph's entire Bonneville line, Honda's CBR1000R Blade, Yamaha's XSR900, Kawasaki's Z900, Ducati's Scrambler line,...I could go on. Us old guys love the nod to the bikes we grew up riding and loving, and the younger crowd clearly revels in the nostalgia these bikes recall. Its a great time to be riding!

With all the concern over the flagging bike sales in America, and companies seeking new riders among the younger generation, 2017 was a year of reassessment in the industry. These are but a few of the events and developments of the past year, the ones I most remember. I hope 2018 will see even more in the way of good news.