The economy is angry! Today Harley-Davidson reports in their 2009 financial results that they've netted a loss of $55.1 million dollars. With Q4 net loss of $218.7 million. Dropping Buell, trying to unload MV Agusta, the US economy, their finacial services, all making a difficult year for the motor company.

Now for more bad news!

According to the Motorcycle Industry Council's research, year over year estimate is that sales are down 40.8%. A total of 520,502 motorcycle sales for 2009 compared to that of 879,910 back in 2008. That's a pretty damaging drop.

Scooters suffered the biggest sales blow as the gas-price buyer bubble has popped. Scooters had a huge influx of sales with gas prices at their highest in 2008.

Gas prices are starting to creep back up ($2.69/gal for 87 octane at the time of this post) we may see another resurgance of all cycle sales as the gas pump strangles us. I put in three gallons in my tank today and came to $9.89. Just 15 years ago I could have filled the tank in my 1990 Crown Victoria Interceptor for $10.

I used to hit up my old man for gas money, "Ten dollars?!?! Why so much? You on empty or something?!?!!", I can't imagine doing the same today, "Hey Dad, I need $65 for gas". He'd drop dead, ressurect himself only to kick my ass.

Start off and state up front no where does this company claim that this device works with a motorcycle helmet. But I suspect that it may.

TuneBug Shake is a conductive speaker that attaches to a surface and it's the surface it's mounted to becomes the speaker. So the plastic and fireglass in your helmet that becomes your speaker, as the peizo electrics in the device vibrate the helmet and emit the sound. Really clever device, sound quality won't be that great, but it'd free up your ears to give you better auditory awareness as you ride. As opposed to headphones which is just plain dangerous.

I'm hearing impaired and would never use such a device myself, mostly due to saftey. I don't want to die just because I want to hear Billy Idol and rock out like a dork from the 80's. Nor would I care to die even if I had a better playlist.

The gadget is bluetooth so it can be mated up with a receiver or an iPhone or iPod Touch so there's no wires to dangle. The device affixes either a strap or thru adhesive pads mated to the helmet as illustrated in the skateboard helmet on the left.

Product sells for $119, if it works with a motorcycle helmet, could be a cool invotion for riders. If it does not work with motorcyle helmets, well then you've read this for naught!

The weather has been at it's coldest here in Northern Alabama, coldest it's been in all of 2010 so fa (not much of an achievement a few days in). Rode when it was 20ºF out and a bit of wind was sneaking under my helmet stinging my neck. Which got me thinking about windchill.

At 20ºF riding at 60mph the windchill would make it feel like it's -4ºF! What is worth noting is this chart from NWS/NOAA is the facts about when frostbite may occur. Something to keep in mind in order to keep your fingers.

Hell for Leather has a well thought out article on the future of electric motorcycles and their pending impact. Worth a read...