This should be the last post for 2007. Time for a little wrap-up:
This Site
It's been a strange year for this site, with very high ups, and even lower downs. Though still increasing the number of readers by some 10-20% every month, financially things are in the toilet. Let's hope 2008 picks up. I initially blocked people with adblockers, but then reports started coming in that "innocent" readers were also being blocked, so I had to remove the blocking program.
2007 was also the year that the site 'look' changed, IMHO for the better. The Newsletter service  was suspended in the beginning of the year, and has been restarted with another supplier this month. We started, but quickly stopped, due to no interests, a "bike-for-sale" section. Oh well, we tried...
I'll be publishing the statistics somewhere during January, so you'll know what was popular...
The Internet and Motorcycles
2007 also saw a lot more motorcycle sites appearing on the internet, specially blog sites. Our Motorcycle Blogger Database currently has 374 sites listed, and there's a 'to-do' list of some 50 more. Compare that to 2004, with some 20 blog sites.
The MBIMotorcycle Bloggers International, an association of motorcycle news and blog sites has grown as well, we're now 139 websites, with a few on the waiting list. During the 1st quarter of 2008, we'll be seeing the next MBI Awards for the motorcycle industry....so keep tuned for that.
Motorcycles
2007 saw some really nice new motorcycles, most of them shown at the EICMA exhibition in Milan, Italy. BMW made a splash with all their GS motorcycles, Ducati with the new Monster and 848, Yamaha and the XT660Z Tenere, Honda with the new CBR1000RR Fireblade and XL700V Transalp, Moto Guzzi's Stelvio, and KTM with their new RC8.
Some interesting concept motorcycles saw the light of day, e.g., the Aprilia FV2 and KTM LC4 690Stunt.
BMW bought Husqvarna, giving themselves a real off road motorcycle.
Sports
2007 also saw some interesting motorcycle racing, specially in the MotoGP arena. Who would have thought that Rossi would lose his crown for a 2nd year (plus his tax evasion problems made it a really bad year), and bravo to Stoner Ducati and Bridgestone.
Team USA won the Motocross of Nations.
2007 was also a sad year, with 2 deaths in the Dakar, the tragic accident of Norifumi "Norick" Abe and Isidre Esteve Pujol enduring a paralyzing accident in Spanish rally.
Movies
Motorcycles are in again, and you can see it in Hollywood. 2 blockbuster movies with loads of motorcycle action premiered; Wild Hogs and Ghost Rider.
Celebs
The Dynamic Duo (Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman) were at it again in the Long Way Down. The King of Jordan bought himself a Confederate and the Dutch Crown Prince got a Harley.
Steve Tyler even launched a motorcycle company (Red Wings). Bono from U2 auctioned off his Ducati for charity, as did Bruce Springsteen with his Harley and Matthew McConaughey did it as well. And then there was Evel Knievel's last ride...
Politics
As usual, motorcycles and their riders, are the easy targets for politicians. Switzerland however eats the cake, with their new law outlawing GPSs that have fixed radar positions (which is about all of them). In France, 100+ hp are still outlawed, despite heavy legal action by the FFMC, leaving France an island in Europe.
In the Philippines, the politicians want motorcycle riders to paint their bike registration number on their helmets...In the USA, several cities, starting with Denver, installed laws that require motorcycles to use stock pipes, hoping to reduce noise pollution.
The eternal debate whether motorcycle pollute more or less than cars still rages, with reports from "experts" flying through the internet.
Conclusion
It was an interesting year to say the least. 2008 will be hard pushed to be than interesting.
That wraps it up for me for this year. Enjoy your new year's party, wherever you are. Remember, don't drink and ride, we'd like you to keep coming back here...
Have a great 2008, lots of fun, health, love and money (or as the saying goes "Health, Love, Money and the time to enjoy it").
Mike Werner signing off for 2007, see you next year.
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