Researcher: Riding Cycles Improves Brain Function
Publish date: Mar 4, 2009
 
A Japanese neuroscientist working in conjunction with Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. says he believes riding motorcycles helps riders invigorate brain function.

Tohoku University’s Ryuta Kawashima, the scientist behind "Brain Training" computer software available on the Nintendo DS, said his research team and Yamaha conducted a string of experiments involving 21 middle-aged men riding motorcycles and found their brains' prefrontal areas activated. The area covers memory, information processing and concentration functions.

A second experiment involved 22 men in their 40s and 50s who held motorcycle licenses but had not operated a cycle for at least a decade. They were randomly split into two groups, with one asked to resume riding motorcycles in everyday life for two months, and another that kept using bicycles or cars. Kawashima says research showed the motorcycle-riding team demonstrated improvements in memory, space recognition and other functions of the prefrontal area.

"I think we made an interesting stir here as data showed you can improve your mental condition simply by using motorbikes to commute," Kawashima told the AFP news service. "Our final conclusion is that riding motorcycles can lead to smart ageing."

In 2003, Kawashima authored Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain, which was a great success in Japan. An English language version of the book was released in 2007 by publisher Penguin Books.

More recently, Kawashima teamed with Toyota to help develop intelligent cars designed to aid seniors drive safely.

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Suzuki Says It Feels Your Pain
Publish date: Nov 1, 2008
By: Guido Ebert
Source: Dealernews

CREATES PROGRAMS TO AID DEALERS IN TOUGH ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

American Suzuki introduced five all-new models and updates to a handful of others for 2009. Suzuki executives, speaking to dealers at the OEM's business meeting early last month, said they understand the woes retailers are experiencing due to troubles in the economy, and said they're prepared on multiple fronts to help dealerships overcome those issues. Whether dealers believe the OEM is to be determined (see OEM Report Card starting "The OEM Report Card").

The OEM's plans for '09 include an all-new GSX-R1000; a 650cc V-twin-powered bike called the Gladius; a 1462cc power cruiser called the M90; a retro-looking air-cooled, fuel-injected unit called the TU250X; and a King Quad 500 with electronic power steering. The M90 ($9,999) started shipping in October and the King Quad 500AXi Power Steering ($7,599) is to be delivered in December. The Gladius ($6,499) is expected to show up at dealerships in February '09, and the GSX-R1000 (MSRP $12,199) and TU250X ($3,499) are to start shipping in March '09. Units not returning for the New Year include the RM 85L, RM 125, S83, SV650 and SV1000S.

Last year American Suzuki introduced 14 new or radically updated products but didn't deliver the product in the numbers promised. Why? Due to the down economy, the factory in Japan cut allocation. VP Mel Harris said the Suzuki factory in Japan "became conservative" in the past year, cutting shipments to protect against massive dealer inventories. The way ASMC sees it, failure to deliver left many of healthier dealers upset over the lack of products. But, using Suzuki corporate math, the "unhealthy" dealers who weren't able to move product because of the down economy should've ended the year with very few noncurrents left on the floor.

In June, American Suzuki announced a plan to consolidate its independent business units — Automotive, Motorcycle/ATV and Marine, along with corporate operations — under a new president, Kinji Saito. Saito says his immediate plan is to understand what retailers need and want, and says he intends to visit stores throughout the country as part of his initial discovery process.

His comments were echoed at the dealer meeting in Las Vegas by Masaaki (Mac) Kato, president of American Suzuki's Motorcycle, ATV and Marine Operations: "We must make our customers happy, and you are our customers," Kato told dealers assembled for the event. "We are committed to work with you, to give you the assistance you need. The factory hears you, and we will be getting the product you need. Talk will lead to action."

Visit http://www.dealernews.com/ to read more about Suzuki's plan for the coming year, including our exclusive interview with Harris and information on more dealer programs. — Guido Ebert

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Suzuki Seeks To Increase Sales of Parts, Accessories
Publish date: Feb 14, 2009
American Suzuki Motor Corp. has been the only major manufacturer to display in Indy for the past seven years. Why?
 
“Dealer Expo is the biggest accessories show in the nation, so we feel it’s important to be here in front of the dealer body to remind them that we are also an accessories company,” says Gary Sherfey, accessories manager of American Suzuki Motor Corp.’s motorcycle and ATV division. “You’ve got all of the major distributors here, and that’s who we are competing against on the accessories side. We don’t compete against Yamaha or Honda on the accessories side, because they don’t make product that fits our bikes. Parts Unlimited, Western Power Sports, Tucker Rocky – they all distribute and sell product that fit our vehicles, and that’s why we feel it very important to stay visible.”
 
Suzuki offers more than 1,200 accessories for its motorcycles and ATVs (not including soft goods like riding apparel, helmets or casual apparel). Has the company noticed any trends in its PG&A business during the past year?
 
“People may have $500 in their pocket instead of $5,000, so I think they’re probably going down to their dealership to buy a new accessory with which to spice up their existing ride,” Sherfey says. “We always do really well with our GSX-R line of product, but something I was really surprised to see this year was an increase in sales of accessories for our little GZ250 and C50 Boulevard. When the price of gas reached $4 per gallon and people started buying our smaller bikes, we sold windshields and saddlebags and backrest mounts at an unheard of volume.”
 
Sherfey says the majority of the parts and accessories distributed by Suzuki are made specifically to meet the OEM’s standards. “If you look at a saddlebag support that we sell and a saddlebag support that someone else sells, they are going to be very similar,” he says. “But, obviously, ours have to go through our testing and procedures to be approved for sale as a genuine Suzuki part."
 
The recently released 2009 Genuine Suzuki Accessories catalog is packed full of custom hard parts, oils and chemicals, helmets, riding gear and casual wear. Stop by and check out the offerings, including newly released gear for the M90 and Gladius. -- Submitted by Guido Ebert