"At $3 a gallon, people were interested in looking at our bikes, but weren't yet ready to make the lifestyle change to owning one. Now, with gas at $4.50 or $5, people are willing to make that change and are starting to buy," said Sean Warner - motorcycle dealer [xfloat=left]http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Jesse_James_Monster_Garage.jpg[/xfloat]Will Carless - voiceofsandiego.org - June 13, 2008 Gas stations also feel the pain -- Ed. While the overall number of property crimes committed in San Diego County's largest cities has generally been dropping since 2003, one property crime has remained stubbornly persistent: Motor vehicle theft. The number of motor vehicles stolen in San Diego, Chula Vista, Escondido and Oceanside has been creeping up steadily since the beginning of the decade, according to FBI crime statistics. Last year, the number of motor vehicles stolen in Chula Vista spiked almost 18 percent. In Escondido, it increased almost 14 percent.… [rm]http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2008/06/13/government/523theft061308.txt[/rm]
That's a BMW R100RT in the photo. You can tell by the opposed-twin motor and fairing. It could also be an R80RT, with a smaller motor. BMW's don't get stolen too often. The article doesn't elaborate, but the biggest target of motorcycle thieves are sport bikes and Harleys. Harry
I was going to say that looks like Jessi James on his custom jockey shift motorcycle he rode to Sturgis... but you meant the picture in the article....
One thing people need to realize is how dangerous it's gotten to ride motorcycles in the city. I hear of motorcycle accidents weekly. For that reason, I'm trying to get rid of mine. It's gotten too bad for me to ride my bike in the city to go to work. Not only that but with 90+ degree temps, taking a shower in the morning before going to work and arriving at work full of sweat from riding the bike just isn't worth the hassle for me. So i'm getting a more fuel efficient vehicle...a Toyota Matrix.
Too bad about the MC theft problem, every biker will end up paying part of that cost. From what I've heard on the street, probably most of the stolen bikes go to Mexico. They are across the border before the owner even knows that it's gone. As of yet, I haven't seen anyone connect the drug traffiking situation in Mexico withe the MC theft problem in SD. I used to have a Norton Atlas 650 twin with reverse megaphones, what a sweet bike that was. I would have been heart broken if it had been stolen. Faithful and True.
