NationStates Jolt Archive

[Credit for the render goes to sabama @ deviantart.]


The ad fades with a tall female pilot in a bomber jacket and nicely fitting service uniform pants backing down a ladder attached to her massive B-108B bomber. A small hop from the second-to-last step to the ground lands her next to her crew chief, who salutes and hands her a helmet before reporting that, "she is ready." The pilot nods and walks a short distance where it becomes fairly evident that "she" is a sleek sport bike. The pilot puts her helmet on, straddles the bike, and before lowering the helmet's visors winks and says, "Speed's a wonderful thing."

The screen fades to black with the sound of the bike's engine being started and revved a couple times,followed by the sound of tires squealing as the bike peels out. Text fades onto the screen which says:

The all new FFM-1407SX Mjolnir
Crush The Opposition


FFM-1407SX Mjolnir (http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs9/i/2006/006/a/3/asimma_concept_bike_____by_sabaman.jpg)

Price: 15,500 USD

Engine type: Liquid-cooled, 4-stroke In-Line Four
Displacement: 1,407 cm³
Bore x stroke: 85 x 62 mm
Compression ratio: 12.0:1
Valve/Induction system: DOHC, 16 valves
Maximum power: 195 horsepower / 9,500 rpm
Maximum power with RAM Air: 205 horsepower / 9,500 rpm
Maximum torque: 113.5 ft lbs / 7,500 rpm
Top Speed: 221 mp/h (355 km/h)
Fuel supply/Carburettor: Fuel injection
Ignition: Digital
Starting: Electric
Transmission: 6-speed, return
Frame type: Monocoque, aluminum
Rake/Trail: 23° / 94 mm
Suspension, front: 43 mm inverted fork
Suspension, rear: Bottom-Link Uni-Trak with gas-charged shock
Wheel travel, front: 117 mm
Wheel travel, rear: 122 mm
Tire, front: 120/70ZR17M/C
Tire, rear: 190/50ZR17M/C
Brakes, front: Dual semi-floating 310 mm petal discs, dual semi-floating 310 mm petal discs
Brakes, rear: Single 270 mm petal disc, opposed 2-piston
Steering angle, left / right: 30° / 30°
Dimensions (L x W x H): 2,170 mm x 760 mm x 1,170 mm
Weight: 200 kg (434.8 lbs)
Wheelbase: 1,470 mm
Seat height: 805 mm
Fuel capacity: 5.81 gallons
Automatic Headlights On (AHO): Yes

Official Message:

The President wishes to buy one of these "Mjolnir" motorcycle's, and wishes to inquire of a possibility of having several Fafnir Motor's dealership's, put in Calizorinstan.

Jack Slovick
President
Calizoristan

FR: Sales Division, Fafnir Motors
TO: Office of the President of Calizorinstan
SUB: RE: Order

Fafnir Motors would be more than pleased to accept this order. We assume that the President desires the standard red/black paint scheme with a matching helmet. In such a case a FMM-1407SX can be shipped as soon as the 15,500 USD plus a sales tax of 775 USD is payed. Please be aware that this does not cover any shipping costs that Imperial Freight and Imports (our preferred shipping company) would charge to deliver the motorcycle.

To:Sales Office, Fafnir Motors
From:Office of the President of Calizorinstan

We will cover the shipping cost's with an extra 1,000 dollar's if that's acceptable, thus making our total to be 17,275$, which we will wire to you for payment. It is an excellent bike for what he want's it to do.

John Wood
Office of the President of Calizorinstan

Where can we get the chick?

[LOL! She's an Imperial Aerospace Force officer. I'm afraid the only way you'd "get the chick" is if she was bombing your country. ;) ]

we would like to buy 10,000.

okay, we would like to buy 3.

[This isn't a storefront, I'm not going to handle large-scale orders; I'll make the occasional exception for tiny orders from dignitaries, but that's it. Just write a new article about sales or whatever.]

ADNN Economic Report

Well, another sexy commercial, another major jump in motorcycle sales. For the second time, a scintillating female has won over the male population of the Federation. While the new commercial from Fafnir Motors is only the second most downloaded commercial of all-time, the honor of the top spot still belongs to the commercial released by Allanean Arms, show a little more skin next time Fafnir, sales have been nearly equal to that of its Allanean counterpart. 40 million "Mjolnir" bikes sold their first week in the Federation, about 5 million behind the debut of the Allanean Arms "Firebolt".

"This could turn into a nationwide competition, to see who sells more," noted economist Herbert Saless said today, "It could really become a class icon, depending on who buys which kind of cycle."

One reason both bikes have been doing so well is the lack of speed limits on Federation roads. While no deaths have been reported of yet, activists have renewed their cries to see the roads made safer and to have speed limits imposed. An e-mail requesting comment from the Department of Transportation said that no new speed limitations are planned.

Charles Divinder, ADNN Economic News.

(excerpt from the Ael-Khalas Union-Sun business section)

With motorcycle sales in Altanar reaching new highs, another company from abroad - Fafnir Motors - has entered the increasingly competitive market.

The FFM-1407SX Mjolnir is the latest bike to scorch Altanar's highways. Its sales have been equally hot - 553,000 of them sold in just a short span of time. Analysts indicate that the company should see sales of roughly 990,000 to 1 million a year.

With the entry of the Mjolnir, and the Firebolt from Allanean Arms, Altanar's longtime premier domestic motorcycle maker, Eagleclaw Motorbikes, may be feeling the heat. Eagleclaw recently announced plans to drop prices on its iconic Talon model by S$5,000 to boost sales.

[Excerpt from local Corinthian news]

West Corinthian motorcycle enthusiasts had their second disappointment of the week when the government barred the import of FFM-1407SX Mjolnir motorcycles. This was due, of course, to the governments new policy regarding gasoline-operated motor vehicles. Until a version of the motorcycle using a hydrogen powered engine is produced, it will not be sold at West Corinthian automotive dealers. A few have been reported smuggled in through the border, but with the country's gasoline stocks now reserved exclusively for the military, it will do the smugglers little good.

OOC: No time to post but envision 15 million of those selling in Allanea every year.

The Mjonlir has sold a record number in Alacea, quickly becoming a very popular icon and has sold about 15 million to date. Estimates show that sales could reach 24 million by the end of the fiscal year.

Super Bike Invasion

Only a week after the introduction of one foreign super bike to Shenyangi drivers, another, the 'Mjolnir' has rocketed onto out shores. This bike comes to us from the Scandavian States, and seems poised to give other imports a run for their money. Early indications seem to show that this bike is much less controversial than its direct competitor.

Sales figures seem to show that 180 million have been sold so far, well outstripping the number which were initially imported and creating a substantial waiting list for any future examples.

How will the super bike wars end? That is for history to decide, but this reporter puts his money on the Mjolnir.

[bump]

The Sensible Economist

Following the introduction of the 'Super Bike' to Leafanistani Markets, it performed as expected. The limited motorbicycle market in Leafanistan has actually been increasing slightly. Large cities, small apartments, and low pay for new emigrants ensure that motorbicycles and their sit down relatives the motorscooter are here to stay in the cities.

However, the Fafnir Motors Mjolnir has only found a small following in the wrong niche. Instead of appealing to the working class who just want a way to rapidly scoot around town they built a motorbicycle at twice the cost of a car from General Resource's Lada 1XX Line, in the same market as the new Allanean Arms superbike, and found that they are entering a highly contested market with an already established 'super bike'.

A paltry 1,500 sales in its first month will probably ensure this flop of a 'Super bike' will be pulled from sales very soon.

[About time it sorta flopped. For a bike as high on the performance chart as this one, especially in a country overly concerned with economical transport, those are good sales numbers.]

tag

Where can we get the chick?
[LOL! She's an Imperial Aerospace Force officer. I'm afraid the only way you'd "get the chick" is if she was bombing your country. ;) ]
[OOC: Funny indeed...pretty nice bike, though a news report will have to come later. How does the chick look like? ;) :p]