21/07/2010 by info.

Harley-Davidson second quarter motorcycle sales revenue is reported up 2.8 percent compared to the second quarter last year at $831.6 million, with dealer retail sales of motorcycles reported down 8.4 percent (on second quarter shipments of 59,046 motorcycles) in a domestic US 651+ cc market that was down 10.1 percent.

At 59,046 second quarter motorcycle shipments to dealers were up compared to the second quarter of 2009 (58,179), and Harley is sticking by its total 2010 expectation to ship between 201,000 and 210,000 motorcycles.

International markets continue to perform well for the Motor Company compared to the pressure that the industry is under domestically, with retail sales in international markets down just 0.2 percent for the second quarter, and 1.1 percent (against 15.3 percent down domestically) for the first six months of the year.

In Harley’s quarterly fiscals press release CEO Keith Wandell is quoted as saying that the company is “making steady progress at executing its strategy to deliver results through focus. We are seeing the benefits of our restructuring and continuous improvement activities reflected in… the continued moderation in the rate of decline of retail new Harley-Davidson motorcycle sales again in the second quarter”.

However, although the firm’s second quarter results are definitely indicative that the business may now be stabilizing at the bottom of its decline cycle, the headline-grabbing statements coming out of Milwaukee continue to concern the future of the business as a Wisconsin icon.

As Wandell continues to “fix on the fix” (as one analyst put it) no options to further improve Harley’s business performance are being left off of his agenda.

With the company and its Wisconsin production employee unions embarking on negotiations for new labor agreements that would take effect in April 2012, Harley has issued the starkest warning yet that it could ‘think the unthinkable’ by setting a mid September 2010 deadline for new agreements that allow it to “close large cost gaps in its Milwaukee and Tomahawk production operations and improve flexibility to meet seasonal and other customer-driven production needs”.

The company says that if it “is unable to achieve those objectives through agreement with the unions… it will move Wisconsin production operations to another U.S. location”.

The cultural implications for the Harley brand are such that most analysts are assuming that it is unlikely to come to that, and that Wandell is tone-setting for the best possible deal.

However, given the strident moves that Wandell has led the company through already, nobody is betting on his negotiators being prepared to blink until they have math that meets their baseline.

www.harley-davidson.com

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16/04/2010 by info.

Press releases follow:

Confederate Motors, Inc. to Launch C3 X132 Hellcat in New Orleans
Confederate Motors, Inc., of Birmingham, AL., the American design company that created the prestigious F131 Hellcat, B120 Wraith, and P120 Fighter Combat, to announce today at the New York International Auto Show, the launch of the new C3, X132 Hellcat.

The C3 will be the lightest, fastest, toughest, smoothest, most exquisite Hellcat, ever. The design centers on a new, long-term strategic power plant alliance with S&S. Further, it will be priced within reach of the top 10% of Harley Davidson buyers.

We are targeting the American motoring purist and aficionado.

First deliveries will begin October 31, 2010, Halloween night, from our new facilities in the art district at 733 St. Joseph Street. This event will mark our first annual Halloween party as we celebrate production of the World’s finest road bike, and simultaneously, with humble gratitude, our return home, to our beloved New Orleans.

Confederate Motors, Inc. and S&S Cycle Announce Long-Term Strategic Plan
S&S Cycle and Confederate Motors, Inc., of Birmingham, AL., today announced a long-term strategic plan that will leverage the complementary strengths of both companies to penetrate the luxury motorcycle market segments. The alliance will include co-development of a motorcycle power plant mounting system in an effort to supply highly differentiated motorcycles and technology sharing, with a planned production launch in July of 2010.

“We are ecstatic about the long-term implications of this union,” said Matt Chambers, CEO and founder, Confederate Motors, Inc. “Confederate’s and S&S’ long traditions of innovation, product passion and analogous cultures complement each other very well.”

He added, “Initially, Confederate will produce and sell highly differentiated motorcycles to the public through a factory direct plan, with additional plans to develop a dealer network and S&S authorized service network in the second half of 2010. The extensiveness of our collaborative efforts will expand thereafter to include new S&S powered vehicles for Confederate and additional technology-sharing between the two companies.”

“We are combining the strengths of the number-one motorcycle power plant manufacturer with those of the premium motorcycle manufacturer to deliver heirloom product solutions for our customers,” Chambers said. “This alliance will permit both companies to extend our customer bases and provide profitable growth.”

http://www.confederate.com/cm4/index.php

http://www.sscycle.com/

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22/01/2010 by info.

Harley-Davidson’s fourth quarter and full year financial results reveal that the company has seen full year income from “continuing operations” drop to $4.29 billion in 2009 against $5.58 billion in 2008.

Including its MV Agusta discontinued operations, Harley is reporting a $55.1 million full-year loss, with the restructuring-impacted fourth quarter loss of $218.7 million taking the annual performance into negative territory for the first time in more than two decades.

Compared to its 5.58 billion revenue in 2008, the company is down 23.1 percent in revenue terms for the year, with fourth quarter revenue down a whopping 40.2 percent to 764.5 million from 1.28 billion for the final quarter of 2008.

Harley President/CEO Keith Wandell remains “confident we have made the right decisions for our future” saying that “these actions are critical to restoring greater profitability and long-term growth to Harley-Davidson.”

Wandell cites some $224 million of restructuring charges impacting the 2009 results, but the company is now saying that, in total, its restructuring is estimated to cost between $430 and $460 million going into 2010, which includes some $175 to $195 million that will work through its books this year.

Harley says that it is ultimately anticipating annual ongoing savings arising from restructuring of between $240 and $260 million a year, with some $135 to $155 million savings anticipated in 2010.

In the fourth quarter of 2009, revenue from Harley-Davidson motorcycles was down 45.6 percent over the final quarter of 2008 at $552 million on a huge 53.1 percent drop in motorcycle shipments to its worldwide dealer network, at 35,938, which is at the lower end of prior guidance. Parts and Accessories though were only down 4.9 percent for the quarter, with General Merchandise only off 3.2 percent.

For the full year, motorcycle revenue was down to $3.17 billion from $4.12 billion in 2008, with motorcycle shipments down to 223,023 for the year, against 303,479 for 2008.

For this year Harley is now saying it anticipates shipments to be in the range 201,000 to 212,000, which would be a reduction of between five and ten percent, giving some credence to off-the-record reports from within the company that the general feeling is that having planned the hits it is taking to deal with the impacts of the downturn, this year should see demand for the firm’s motorcycle broadly stabilize by the end of the year.

In market share terms, the company continues to perform better relative to market decline internationally than at home. Harley says that its full-year decrease in motorcycle sales (in its 651+cc heavyweight sector) represents a 22.7 percent decline worldwide, with 25.8 percent decline domestically, and 15.4 percent in international markets.

There does appear to be some continuing evidence that Harley is outperforming the market, with on-highway motorcycle sales for the domestic US market as a whole (all displacements) down over 40 percent for the year, and evidence to support the “stabilization” theory.

Compared to the full-year performance, final quarter retail sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles declined “just” 27.9 percent (domestic 651+cc), despite its reported greater than 50 percent year-on-year reduction in shipments to dealers (suggesting that some supply/demand equilibrium is on the horizon) with final quarter international retail sales down 10.3 percent only in international markets.

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06/01/2010 by info.

Pennsylvania - ~Three Reported Missing After Animal Rights Activists Take “War on Leather” to Motorcycle Gang Rally.~
Johnstown, PA: Local and state police scoured the hills outside rural Johnstown, Pennsylvania, after reports of three animal rights activists going missing after attempting to protest the wearing of leather at a large motorcycle gang rally this weekend. Two others, previously reported missing, were discovered by fast food workers “duct taped inside several fast food restaurant dumpsters,” according to police officials.

“Something just went wrong,” said a still visibly shaken organizer of the protest. “Something just went horribly, horribly, wrong.”

The organizer said a group of concerned animal rights activist groups, “growing tired of throwing fake blood and shouting profanities at older women wearing leather or fur coats,” decided to protest the annual motorcycle club event “in a hope to show them our outrage at their wanton use of leather in their clothing and motor bike seats.” “In fact,” said the organizer. “Motorcycle gangs are one of the biggest abusers of wearing leather, and we decided it was high time that we let them know that we disagree with them using it… Ergo, they should stop.”

According to witnesses, protesters arrived at the event in a vintage 1960’s era Volkswagen van and began to pelt the gang members with balloons filled with red colored water, simulating blood, and shouting “you’re murderers” to passers by. This, evidently, is when the brouhaha began.

“They peed on me!!!” charged one activist. “They grabbed me, said I looked like I was French, started calling me ‘La Trene’, and duct taped me to a tree so they could pee on me all day!”

“I… I was trying to show my outrage at a man with a heavy leather jacket. And, he… he didn’t even care. I called him a murderer, and all he said was, ‘You can’t prove that.’ Next thing I know is he forced me to ride on the back of his motorcycle all day, and not left me off, because his girl friend was out of town and I was almost a woman.”

Still others claimed they were forced to eat hamburgers and hot dogs under duress. Those who resisted were allegedly held down while several bikers “farted on their heads.”

Police officials declined comments on any leads or arrests due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, however, organizers for the motorcycle club rally expressed “surprise” at the allegations.

“That’s preposterous,” said on high ranking member of the biker organizing committee. “We were having a party, and these people showed up and were very rude to us. They threw things at us, called us names, and tried to ruin the entire event. So, what did we do? We invited them to the party! What could be more friendly than that? You know, just because we are all members of motorcycle clubs does not mean we do not care about inclusiveness. Personally, I think it shows a lack of character for them to be saying such nasty things about us after we bent over backwards to make them feel welcome.”

When confronted with the allegations of force feeding the activists meat, using them as ad hoc latrines, leaving them incapacitated in fast food restaurant dumpsters, and ‘farting on their heads,’ the organizer declined to comment in detail. “That’s just our secret handshake,” assured the organizer.

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21/12/2009 by info.

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10/12/2009 by info.

Safety recall for H-D Touring Models

Potential Number of Units Affected: 111569

Summary:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 TOURING FAMILY MOTORCYCLES, INCLUDING CVO TOURING AND TRIKE PRODUCTS, MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6, 2008 THROUGH NOVEMBER 19, 2009. THE FRONT FUEL TANK MOUNTS MAY DISTORT IN REACTION TO SEVERE FRAME DAMAGE FROM A FRONTAL COLLISION. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE A FUEL LEAK AT THE WELD OF THE FRONT BRACKET TO THE TUNNEL.

Consequence:

A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LEFT AND RIGHT BRACE, WHICH ARE INTENDED TO REDUCE FRONT MOUNT DISTORTION DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS. THIS REPAIR WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

Models Affected.

Vehicle Make / Model:                Model Year(s):
H-D / FLHP                              2009-2010
H-D / FLHPE                           2009-2010
H-D / FLHR                             2009-2010
H-D / FLHR SHRINE             2009-2010
H-D / FLHRC                           2009-2010
H-D / FLHT                             2009-2010
H-D / FLHTC                          2009-2010
H-D / FLHTCU                       2009-2010
H-D / FLHTCU SHRINE      2009-2010
H-D / FLHTCU W/SC           2009-2010
H-D / FLHTCU4-CVO           2009
H-D / FLHTCUSE4                2009
H-D / FLHTCUSE5               2010
H-D / FLHTCUTG                2009-2010
H-D / FLHTK                        2010
H-D / FLHTP                        2009-2010
H-D / FLHX                           2009-2010
H-D / FLHXXX                      2010
H-D / FLTR                            2009
H-D / FLTR3-CVO               2009
H-D / FLTRSE3                     2009

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27/11/2009 by info.

Travel Channel has new episodes of Henry Cole’s The World´s Greatest Motorcycle Rides and teams up again with Saxon Motorcycles

The Travel Channel is broadcasting new episodes of the television program called ‘The World´s Greatest Motorcycle Rides’. Obviously they do these rides with beautiful custom bikes. After having good experiences, they have again chosen to ride it on a Saxon, this time on a Griffin chopper.  Henry Cole, presenter of the program, chooses the routes in the USA and shows them to the viewer, enjoying the ride on the Saxon. In this episodes Henry Cole is Riding America’s Wild West and Riding The American Dream.

Saxon Motorcycles Europe is very excited. “It is a real compliment and confirmation that our motorcycles are not only beautiful to see, but also fit to make every kind of ride, this shows the comfort
and experience of riding a Saxon.” says Rinke Andringa, owner. “In this program you can again see the Saxons in action, being driven throughout the most beautiful motorcycles rides in the World.” adds
Frank Vermeulen.

Saxon Motorcycles presents summaries of the earlier shows on their website and on YouTube.

Riding California’s Highway No.1
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS1IfwcW9Vo

Riding The American Desserts
www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-asT_6B95o

Riding Boston to Key West part 1
www.youtube.com/watch?v=36NHTDf8bfk

Riding Boston to Key West part 2
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJHKFM6vdsk

Riding The Deep South
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxfnv0D5wsM

More information about Saxon Motorcycles Europe and their custom models can be found on the
internet www.SaxonMotorcycles.eu. Information of the tv show can be found on

www.travelchannel.co.uk/Series/ourprogrammes/worlds_greatest_motorcycle_rides_4.htm

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21/11/2009 by info.

Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Buell Motorcycle Company, will leave the company to establish Erik Buell Racing, an independent motorcycle race shop.

Press release as follows:

Milwaukee, Wis. — (Friday, November 20, 2009) Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) announced today that following the company’s recent decision to discontinue the Buell motorcycle product line, Erik Buell, Chairman and Chief Technical Officer of Buell Motorcycle Company, will leave the company to establish Erik Buell Racing, an independent motorcycle race shop.

Erik Buell Racing will specialize in the supply of race-use-only Buell motorcycle parts and race preparation services for engines and motorcycles, and the building and sale of Buell® 1125R-based race-use-only motorcycles under license from Harley-Davidson, as well as providing technical support to racers of Buell motorcycles.

“I’m looking forward to helping Buell racers keep their bikes flying,” said Erik Buell. “We’ve got some exciting race development projects in the works and it will mean a lot to me personally to see Buell racers competing for wins and championships in the 2010 season and beyond.”

“I’m pleased that Harley-Davidson is assisting Erik in establishing this business to continue supporting the racing efforts he has had so much passion for over the years,” said Buell President and COO Jon Flickinger. “Harley-Davidson and the Buell Motorcycle Company will always be proud of their affiliation with Erik, and we wish him well in this new endeavor to support Buell racers.”

Erik Buell Racing will be based in East Troy, Wisconsin and will be staffed by Erik Buell and a veteran team of personnel. For more information, after December 1, 2009, contact:

Erik Buell Racing, LLC
2799 Buell Drive, Unit C
East Troy, WI 53120

http://www.erikbuellracing.com/

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20/11/2009 by info.

Montgomery, AL (Nov. 19, 2009)   IronWorks Magazine a popular publication for VTwin powered motorcycles, announces a multi-media partnership with Open Road Radio and industry broadcasting veteran and long-time Harley-Davidson enthusiast Gina Woods.

Recently syndicated, Open Road Radio is the only live talk show of its kind focusing exclusively on the history, passion, evolution, and culture of motorcycling. Founded by Gina Woods in 1997, the show has grown from a humble local radio talk show in Chicago, IL into a global communications powerhouse. Special guests have included Willie G. Davidson, Jay Leno, and Peter Fonda
The weekly line up covers industry news, new products, bike tips, events, racing news, issues affecting our freedom to ride, and just announced, weekly appearances by the IronWorks Magazine staff.

Open Road Radio is broadcast live world-wide each Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm CST on XM 152, www.OpenRoadRadio.com, and on www.PowerUpChannel.com. Shows are also re-broadcast three times weekly and archived for podcast downloading.

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15/10/2009 by info.

Shock news announced today by H-D - the company plans to discontinue its Buell product line and sell its MV Agusta unit, essentially exiting the sport bike market.  Harley-Davidson Inc. said Thursday its third-quarter net income dropped 84% to $26.48 million, or 11 cents a share, from $166.54 million, or 71 cents a share in the year-ago period. The Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer was expected to earn 23 cents a share, according to a survey by FactSet Research. Harley’s latest quarter included a one-time fixed-asset impairment charge of $14.2 million related to Buell and a goodwill impairment charge of $18.9 million related to MV Agusta. Looking ahead, the company will discontinue production of Buell motorcycles, resulting in the loss of 180 jobs over time. It’ll book one-time charges of $215 million to $245 million in 2009 and 2010, about $55 million ahead of its July projections. The company expects to ship 35,000 to 40,000 motorcycles in the fourth quarter.

Damn shame - Buell is a great bike!

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