24/09/2007 by info.

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24/09/2007 by info.

Ahhh the wonders of Photoshop…..

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24/09/2007 by info.

IN response to its need to cut production numbers, Harley has said that it will close its final assembly plants in York, Pa., and Kansas City, Ma., their powertrain operations in Wauwatosa and Menomonee Falls, Wi. and their Tomahawk operations in Tomahawk, Wi. for the week of Nov. 26.

Employees will not be paid during the lay-off, although healthcare benefits will be continuous and all employees will be re-called immediately after the shut-down. Union bosses are estimating that some 1500 employees will be affected in Wisconsin alone.

The move represents Harley’s response to its need to cut ‘07 production numbers following its reduced sales forecasts for the year.

“The company regrets the temporary impact the shipment reduction will have on so many of its employees as well as its dealers, suppliers and customers,” Harley said in a statement. “The company believes this solution is the best option for balancing the needs of our stakeholders while doing what’s right for the long-term prosperity of the company.”

A September 7th announcement stated that Harley was lowering its sales projections for the third quarter and second half of 2007. The company now says its ‘07 motorcycle sales will be lower than last year with third quarter “shipments” now being forecast down to between 86,000 and 88,000 motorcycles.

Chief Executive Officer Jim Ziemer says that the company “no longer expects worldwide dealer sales to increase during the second half of 2007.” Coupled with a decline in unit sales in the first half of 2007, unit shipments for the year as a whole are also now expected to be lower than were recorded in 2006.

The firm is now forecasting a “modest” decline in revenue for 2007, the first year in which they’ll have seen such a revenue since the 1980s, and earnings per share are expected to be down between 4 and 6 percent.

Harley have also said “some sites will take additional steps to achieve their production reductions,” but the company did not state what the actions would be.

www.harley-davidson.com

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24/09/2007 by info.

Big Dog Motorcycles, the Wichita, Kansas based manufacturer that proudly claims to be the “largest manufacturer of custom motorcycles in the world” unveiled it’s 2008 model line-up to very positive response from dealers and the press alike at it’s annual dealer meeting in San Diego last week.

Big Dog’s updated 280mm rear end ‘Pitbull’ features a radical new twin Works Performance shock absorber set-up that isolation mounts the sprung seat. A re-designed double downtube frame, and 23 inch front/20 inch rear billet wheels and distinctive new tank design give the bike contemporary looks.

The headline news is a make-over for its best established Pitbull model that sees a move forward in styling and several engineering firsts for the company.

Not least the use of twin Works Performance mini shocks under the sprung seat to achieve isolation mounted comfort on a re-designed single downtube rigid framed model that boasts a distinctive new style of 4.6 gallon tank, 280mm rear tire, and taller 23 inch front and 20 inch rear billet wheel size combination.

Featuring a 117 inch (1916 cc) S&S engine, 6-speed final belt RSD, 41mm telescopic front forks and 31 degree rake the bike was the highlight of a series of announcements that also included the introduction of an entirely new model.

Designated the Big Dog ‘Mutt’ it is a 250mm rear end softail style model featuring hidden shock suspension, 6 inch backbone stretch, 2 inch OS forks, spoke wheels and S&S 117 inch (1916cc) engine.

Big Dog’s all new ‘Mutt’ is a 250mm rear tire softail style custom featuring hidden shocks and 6″ back bone stretch.

Described as a “price point model” one dealer described it as “a lot of bike for the money” and alongside an updated ‘Ridgeback’ rigid chopper that now features a 330 rear tire the company was understandably excited about their prospects for the year ahead.

www.bigdogmotorcycles.com

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24/09/2007 by info.

IN a press release issued Friday September 7th Harley-Davidson announced a revised motorcycle shipment forecast of between 86,000 and 88,000 motorcycles in the third quarter of 2007.

The company says that “shipments of between 91,000 units and 95,000 units were originally planned for the quarter, and shipments for the full year are expected to be in the range of 328,000 to 332,000.”

Initial reports about our 2008 model year motorcycles from our dealers and the media have been excellent, but this is a difficult time for the U.S. consumer,” said Jim Ziemer, Chief Executive Officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc. “Coming off a negative U.S. retail sales trend in the first six months of the year, we ran an effective promotion in July that increased retail sales and reduced inventories of 2007 model motorcycles. However, our U.S. dealers’ retail sales fell sharply during August. Against the current economic background, we no longer expect worldwide dealer retail sales to increase during the second half of 2007. As a result, the Company has decided to reduce its planned shipments of motorcycles to its dealers for the remainder of 2007. The Company expects its actions will result in fewer wholesale motorcycle shipments than dealer retail sales during 2007,” said Ziemer.

“The release went on to say that “the Company now expects a modest decline in revenue for 2007. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the full year 2007 are expected to be down 4 to 6 percent, in the range of $3.69- $3.77, compared to 2006 EPS of $3.93″.

“Looking ahead to 2008, the Company anticipates the U.S. retail motorcycle environment will continue to be challenging. We expect moderate revenue growth, lower operating margins and EPS growth of between 4 and 7 percent.”

“Although this is a challenging time, Harley-Davidson is the worldwide heavyweight motorcycle market leader,” said Ziemer. “We enjoy an enviable position of financial strength, with a solid balance sheet, strong cash-flow and a history of returning value to shareholders. While a decision to reduce shipments and expectations is never easy, it is clearly the right thing to do for the long-term health of the brand and the business,” said Ziemer.

www.harley-davidson.com

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