“Practicality” can be a very subjective term. By general definition, it could be described as the inclination of being designed for actual work or useful activities. The current economic climate suggests that it’s less than practical for OEM’s to continue pushing out huge-bore cruisers and race-spec sport bikes at the rate that they were a half a decade ago.

With most folks having less disposable income, and with gas prices skyrocketing, many new releases available from the Japanese center around a different market segment in the United States than in years passed. Many of the newer models represent a big change in the American motorcycle market. Often referred to as … Continue Reading

At J&P Cycles, we make it a matter of pride to work hard and play hard, and Cinco de Mayo was a day when we played hard. For years, the bosses at J&P have hosted an employee appreciation event, where managers serve employees and employees, in turn, get a chance to dress their manager, supervisor and team leads in festive garb.

This year, we did things a little different. Instead of the usual employee appreciation event, we added a Cinco de Mayo celebration to it and every manager, supervisor and team lead donned a sombrero, decorated by their peers.

In addition, many also wore great-looking, festive costumes in observance of … Continue Reading

Depending on whether or not you’ve done the homework, purchasing a new motorcycle can be just about the most fun you ever had with your clothes on, or it can be a confusing, overwhelming experience. And probably the first question you must ask yourself before you even darken the door of the dealership is this: What am I going to be using the bike for?

I’ve purchased a few new motorcycles over the years and a whole lot of used bikes. And I ask myself if I’m going to be doing a lot of touring on the bike, or just some around town cruising. This helps narrow down the search, … Continue Reading

Each year, a bunch of us here at J&P Cycles spend a few months putting together the Cruiser catalog so you’ll have an idea of what’s new and what’s best for the upcoming riding season. We chat with vendors and search industry wide for the best products to include in our catalogs. Our customers say they look forward to our books each year, and that’s due in part to the fact that we’ve been producing these primo product publications for three decades now.

We just now wrapped up production on our new Cruiser catalog for the 2011 season and you should find it on your doorstep within days. That’s assuming, … Continue Reading

There have been some legitimate grumblings in the motorcycle industry the past few months concerning J&P customers who haven’t received their orders in a timely manner. And to say nobody’s more frustrated about the situation than us just doesn’t cut it. Tell that to the guy who needed a fuel controller or a caliper seal kit before heading off to this weekend’s Laughlin River Run.

Truth be told, we undertook a significant overhaul of our order delivery technology earlier this year, with four out of five of our major systems being switched out at the same time. We had a few issues with the cutover to the new systems and … Continue Reading

Workshops — you just gotta love ’em. And here at J&P Cycles, knowledge is power and power is fun, and we love providing our customers with the most up-to-date information about their favorite pastime.

This time around, we’ve organized a workshop specifically targeting our Gold Wing customers. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at our headquarters, located at 13225 Circle Drive in Anamosa, Iowa. This workshop will cover general maintenance tips, including a demonstration on how to access and service your Gold Wing’s air filter, change the oil filter and oil and a demo on rear-tire removal.

We’ll outline an informational pre-ride … Continue Reading

Polaris Industries faxed its dealer network late Tuesday afternoon to announce it had acquired Indian Motorcycle Ltd., a move I see as placing a big target on Harley-Davidson’s back and raising the specter that Harley might be facing some decent domestic competition in the near future. Indian is a company that is advised by Stellican Ltd. and Novator Partners LLP, two United Kingdom private equity firms.

Adding some support to my prognosis, Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE:PII) stock was up 26 percent this morning after news of the Indian Motorcycle Ltd. (IML) acquisition. That’s a gain of 48 percent year-to-date. And further bolstering the news was the release today of … Continue Reading

We’ve all been there. You order something and you’re anxiously awaiting its arrival on your doorstep. After two days, you begin to worry. Did I sign the check? Did I transpose the numbers on my credit card? Did I send my order to the wrong fax number?

At J&P Cycles, we’ve taken the trauma out of waiting with our new online order status option. That’s right. You can now follow the progress of your new J&P toy as it makes its way from us to you. Whether you order by phone, the web, fax or mail, simply come online any time you like — 24 hours a day, seven days … Continue Reading

Motorcycle parts and accessories, great customer service and technical support and one-of-a-kind summer events. Add ’em all up and you’ve got an accurate description of J&P Cycles, the go-to bike parts store, capable of handling all of your needs, including summer savings and fun!

In addition to our annual Open House event on June 25 and 26 this summer, we’re again hosting the Cruise Night series one Tuesday evening a month, beginning in May and running through September. Cruise Night caters to motorcycle and car enthusiasts, and is open to the public. In its eighth season, J&P Cycles Cruise Nights take place on May 17, June 14, July 12, … Continue Reading

As long as you’ve got your calendar off the kitchen wall, you might as well mark down June 25 and 26, because those are the dates for the 32^nd annual J&P Cycles Open House. This two-day weekend event is an annual tradition for thousands of our friends and customers, and it remains popular after more than three decades because of all the activities we put on.

Take, for example, the Daytona Harley-Davidson Drill Team, the ILLConduct Motorcycle Stunt Show and Extreme Gravity Defying Entertainment. In between the action shows, we’ll have more than 80 of the top motorcycle manufacturers showcasing their latest wares on our expansive grounds. And there … Continue Reading