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How many of you have finished your Christmas shopping already? I’m sad to report that I am not among your number. Thirteen days left of the shopping season, and I’m still wandering around aimlessly looking for those special gifts for the people on my list.
I wandered into my favorite motorcycle store — Two Jacks in Parsons. I fully intended to just browse around and try to get some ideas about some small accessories to put in the old man’s stocking or wrap and put under the tree. I also have to buy him something for his birthday. Yes, it’s Christmas Day. You try finding birthday wrap at this time of the year.
Luckily, Randy Williams was around to help me figure some things out on my list. Now, to be fair, he also showed me a few things I’d like to have on my side of the Christmas tree. I may be easily talked into upgrading to a 650 scooter, or as Randy calls it “a step-through motorcycle.” I joked that this title might be a little too long for the column heading, but its nice to know that the scooter is now being defined as a category of motorcycle.
Randy also predicts that scooter sales “will go up in the spring. Scooter sales in other dealerships in the South and West are going strong.” When asked why, he replied, “The main thing is gas mileage, and it does fit anybody and everybody.” He really gets my attention when he tells me that the 2008 Burgman, and I quote, “Goes like a bat out of hell.” That’s just about how fast I need to ride. Grin. So I think I’ll just add one to my Christmas wish list, Santa, if you are reading this!
I asked him if he thought people in this area would join the scooter wave. Randy said that “the reasons for buying scooters are mostly the fuel mileage and that these bikes are quality, made-to-last, serious machines made for transportation. The Northeast is starting to catch up with the rest of the country. These bikes are not to be taken lightly; these are serious machines.” My friend Molly has always insisted that scooter gangs are tougher than the motorcycle gangs. At least in Germany.
Next we checked out two of the hottest new bikes in the showroom. They are the Suzuki Hayabusa and the “naked” Hayabusa, called the B-King. I wanted to know what made these two bikes so hot. “These are really hot releases for ’08 and have revamped motors. The motors are done, not just cosmetics,” says Randy. Of course, you know I had to ask — just how fast are these little beauties? I’m told that “all motorcycles shut down at 186 miles an hour, and now the thing is to see how fast they get there.” OK, who really needs to go that fast on a bike? Yikes!
So there you have the perfect bike for the guy or gal that has the need for speed. But if you can’t afford to buy that faster-than-the-speed-of-light bike, there are lots of other things that might tickle the fancy of your biker on Christmas morning. I have to think that my personal favorite was the brand new Digital moto camera. It has a built-in MP3 player. You can hard mount it on the bike or to your helmet. You can now record your favorite ride along the open road. So for anyone that wants to show off their travels, or spills, on YouTube, this is the gizmo.
I asked Randy if they had done the traditional Black Friday sales, and indeed they did. However, they really focus more on a year-end sale strategy and not solely on Christmas. This gives the customer a little longer to take advantage of the good deals. How about Cyber Monday? I know that you guys have a Web site, so how does that all work? Randy explains that “We get some Internet sales, and we have the catalog online. [People] can even order hard parts.” Two Jacks will ship it to you or have it waiting in the store for pickup. But, Randy continues, “Some people still like the touchy-feely, they like to touch it, smell it, wear it, and those people will come to the store.”
So whatever your rider needs from fuel additive to the B-King, you can find it here. Randy also says that the big item this year seems to be the gift certificate in the $50 amount. This way you won’t guess wrong!
So to all of you who ride or just read about riding, Happy Christmas! Now I have to get out and finish my shopping!