by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Going for a pre-owned vehicle, regardless of its type or number of wheels, is always risky business. Despite all the tools the modern world puts at the disposal of the buyers, one could always end up taking home something really faulty. That’s why we have certified pre-owned programs. Generally ran through dealers or the car/bike makers themselves, these initiatives try to put the buyers’ minds at ease by supplying them with all the correct info and checks for a vehicle. British bike maker Triumph has been running such a program on the home continent for a while now, and apparently it was successful enough for the company to decide an expansion on the U.S. market would be in order. As such, starting November 23, the Triumph Certified Pre-Owned Motorcycle Program kicked off. According to Triumph, bikes sold through this program come with a few perks. First, there is the quality check performed by the bike maker’s or its dealer’s personnel. The two-wheelers will thus have a full-service history, but also multi-point inspection and all rectification work, if needed, completed. Then, each one will come with minimum 1-year, unlimited mileage warranty, but also 1-year roadside assistance. Financing for bikes sold this way is also available. This program is good news for those trying to sell as well. Triumph accepts into this program bikes up to 5 years of age from first registration, with a maximum mileage of 25,000 miles (40,000 km). Those involved in major accidents, used for racing, or equipped with non-Triumph hardware will not be accepted. “We are proud to offer a Certified Pre-Owned program, ensuring that customers joining the Triumph family with a pre-owned motorcycle are given the same great product experience and factory-backed assurances as someone buying a brand-new Triumph,” said in a statement Rod Lopusnak – General Manager, Triumph North America. “The program also offers a great benefit to new bike buyers, by protecting the residual value of their brand-new Triumph when they’re ready to sell or trade-in for a new bike. And for our dealers, they’re now able to list their Certified Pre-Owned motorcycle inventory on our new website for national visibility.”

by Sabrina Giacomini from https://www.rideapart.com

Not all new motorcycle rumors are true, especially when you’re Honda and you run your own rumor mill. Sometimes, however, despite all the noise, some of those rumors turn out to be real and we get nice surprises like this shiny new 2021 Honda Rebel 1100.

We’ve been talking about a possible Rebel 1100 since March, 2020, when the folks at Young Machine published a render of an upscaled Rebel 500 armed with the Africa Twin’s new 1100 engine. The bike ultimately showed up in a patent in October which seemed to confirm the rumor. It became more a matter of “when” rather than “if”.

Well, folks, the “when” is November 24. Honda pulled the cover off its all-new buffed up Rebel, equipped, as expected with a retuned version of the CRF1100L’s 1,084cc, 270-degree, Unicam, parallel-twin. Also, like the Africa, the Rebel 1100 is equipped with a ride-by-wire throttle that allows the cruiser to feature three riding modes (Standard, Sport, and Rain) and is offered with a choice of a six-speed gearbox or a DCT.

At the front, the cruiser chassis is mounted to a 43mm telescopic fork while the back is support by a pair of Showa shocks with piggyback reservoirs. The 18-inch front wheel is equipped with a 330mm disc with a four-piston caliper while the 16-inch rear wheel gets its stopping power from a single 256mm disc. The bike also features ABS at both wheels and Honda Selectable Torque Control with wheelie control.

A 3.6-gallon fuel tank sits on top of the chassis (versus 2.96 gallons for the Rebel 500 for comparison) and the bike weighs in at a total of 487 pounds for the manual trim level and at 509 pounds with the DCT.

Pricing for the new 2021 Honda Rebel 1100 starts at $9,299 which is $700 cheaper than, say, the Harley-Davidson Iron 1200 ($9,999) and $2,000 less than the Forty-Eight (for a comparable bobber-ish silhouette). Honda also offers a collection of factory accessories that includes soft saddlebags with rack, a batwing fairing, quilted saddles in black and tan

117-Inch, High Tech, Street Glide CVO

Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations has always set the gold standard of style and luxury.

All three 2020 CVOs get the Milwaukee-Eight 117 motor. This powerplant is exclusive to the CVO line. It has the highest displacement of a stock Harley-Davidson, and more power than any other Motor Company showroom engine. With an elegant blaze of red paint, the engine features an incredible color mix of accented rocker box lows. With 125 ft/lbs of torque, the M8 117 is amazing. You are looking over the top of 100mph before you blink.

Harley Davidson’s 2020 CVO Street glide is a hybrid of many advanced technologies that guarantee both control and confidence while on it. The bike’s systems are configured to produce excellent control including chassis control, including electronic brake control and powertrain technology.

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by Jim Osman from https://www.forbes.com

Visionary CEO Keith E. Wandell should go down in history as the man who introduced the electric motorcycle to the US market and possibly the first CEO to bring it to the world.

It was in 2011 that Mr. Wandell first showcased his unbranded team-made creation to a keen San Francisco motor bike enthusiast crowd. He might be the most notorious CEO that the iconic US bike manufacturer Harley-Davidson HOG +4.1% has had (founded 117 years ago in Milwaukee, Wisconsin).

However, The Edge (the global leader for activist ideas, special situations and Spinoffs) believes new CEO Jochen Zeitz is the best thing to happen to the company since Mr. Wandell left and successor Matthew S. Levatich was fired suddenly thanks to Impala Asset Management, the $2.4 billion activist hedge fund led by Bob Bishop.

The US military purchased over 20,000 motorcycles from Harley-Davidson in World War I and the company also lent itself to supporting US and Allied troops in World War II, with 90,000 military motorcycles handed over.

Harley-Davidson’s global fan club run in the millions of members, called Harley Owners Group (HOG), and their constant support of US military and Allied troops gives to many charities around the world.

Under Mr. Wandell’s stewardship, the electric motorbike became a reality for Harley-Davidson when the LiveWire was first displayed to the media in June 2014 and released to customers by September 2019.

It even became the star of 2019 documentary “The Long Way Up” featuring Unicef Ambassadors and Hollywood actor Ewan McGregor and his longtime riding buddy Charley Boorman when they traveled from Argentina to LA on the electric LiveWire bikes.

In the 1950s Harley-Davidson dealt with reputation damage as well as economic downturns, and was on its knees by the 1960s. In 1969, American Machine and Foundry (AMF) rescued the nearly bankrupt Harley-Davidson.

AMF sold the company to a group of 13 investors led by Vaughn Beals and Willie G. Davidson for $80 million in 1981. To this day, it’s one of only two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive beyond the Great Depression.

On July 1, 1987, executives from Harley-Davidson and the New York Stock Exchange rode from the Harley dealership in Queens to the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street to celebrate the first day Harley-Davidson began trading under the ticker symbol HDI, according to the Harley-Davidson museum.

Mr. Wandell joined Harley-Davidson in May 2009, becoming the first external CEO since 1981. On February 7, 2012, under Wandell’s reign Harley-Davidson changed its New York Stock ticker symbol from HDI to HOG.

Mr. Wandell joined Harley-Davidson as CEO in 2009 and by 2012 he had assumed complete control as Chairman of the company’s board of directors while paying investors an increased dividend. It was Mr. Wandell who showed off his unbranded electric motorcycle to enthusiasts in downtown San Francisco in Autumn 2011.

But Mr. Wandell had an eye for talent and promoted Matthew S. Levatich, who joined Harley-Davidson in 1994, as Chief Operating Officer to President, and then CEO of the company in 2015 when Mr. Wandell retired.

Current President, CEO and Executive Chairman Jochen Zeitz (took office February 2020) made two purchases in May 2020, once on May 8 (97,850 shares at $21.26, totaling just over $2m) and again on May 13 (51,020 shares at $19.52, totaling just shy of $1m and representing a 51% increase to his holdings).

These were his first purchases of HOG stock and he has recently made another purchase on August 12 – this time buying 71,450 shares at $27.86 (again spending about $2m, representing a further 47% increase to his holdings) at a significantly higher level than his previous buys. From the May 8 purchase to date, Zeitz’s insider buying made an adjusted +23% return.

Another executive also bought on May 13, then-CFO John Olin, who bought 13,500 shares at $19.02 (spending $260k and representing a 19% increase to his holdings at the time. Since that purchase, Mr. Olin has left the company as part of the larger cost-cutting restructuring called “The Rewire,” though his purchase has yielded a significant return of +45% in just over three months.

Vice President & Treasurer Darrell Thomas has taken over interim CFO duties as of July 9 until a formal successor has been named.

In April 2020, in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, HOG announced a strategic turnaround plan called “The Rewire,” intended to overhaul the company’s global operating model and save costs.

As a result of the ongoing implementation of the Rewire, several optimization changes have been made to the global workforce and reduction of redundancies, there is an increased focus on offering customizable parts and accessories to help consumers make their motorcycles more personal.

The creation of Chief Digital Officer with Jagdish Krishnan in the role is designed create broader and more engaging digital marketing experience for consumers.

This initiative intends to bring Harley-Davidson into the modern era and appeal to generation Z consumers and beyond (as much of the counter-culture base has grown older and motorcycles have struggled to catch on with a wider young audience), and may provide another example of Mr. Zeitz’s turnaround magic.

The Bikernet staff wants to say, “Thanks!” In a very big way, we are thankful to still be doing what we love everyday.

 

Just the other day a perfect stranger, a 28-year-old Redhead wandered into the shop. Honor’s friend, Megan, just broke up with her old man and needed a place to stay. All she had to her name was a rigid frame, a link to a partial Panhead engine, and pieces of a primary belt drive.

 

Immediately, Honor shared her space in the front of the Bikernet headquarters. Ryan McQuiston, of McQuiston’s Custom Cycles offered her a job, while she worked on transferring her electrician union standing to a local group. And the brothers in the shop checked her frame (not that one) and started to chase parts for her first bike. It’s like that with bikers all over the world. Always willing to help anyone with anything.

 

We are damn thankful to every Bikernet Reader, Contributor, Cantina Member and 5-Ball Customer for helping us keep the lights on, sharing the action and enjoying the ride everyday.

 

I wish everyone the absolute best this Thanksgiving. See you in Bonneville next year.

 

K.Ball

Janitor

5-Ball Inc.

Bandit’s Cantina

Bikernet.com™

We needed to get out of Chinese Covid hell. We needed to ride, and we should ride in style. Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations has always set the gold standard of style and luxury. Because they are manufactured in a limited quantity, they always sell out. In this time of a Chinese Covid (CCQ) quarantine, a CVO may be the perfect prescription for your sequestered soul.

The 2020 CVOs have taken on a subtle, more introspective look. The CVO Street Glide is the brash bad boy of the bunch. Offered in three paint options, mine was Smokey Gray and Black Hole with 1970s-style race-inspired graphics highlighted by Gloss Black, Satin Black, and Black Onyx finishes. Fugitive wheels finished in Denim Black/Gloss Black. Gloss Black Heavy Breather air cleaner.

This bad boy is the loudest of the CVO gang this year, with a 300-watt amp powering each pair of Boom including Stage II bi-amped speakers. I can attest that anyone within earshot will know you are coming and your prefferd 600 watts of music style

All three 2020 CVOs get the Milwaukee-Eight 117 motor. This powerplant is exclusive to the CVO line. It has the highest displacement of a stock Harley-Davidson, and more power than any other Motor Company showroom engine. With an elegant blaze of red paint, the engine features an incredible color mix of accented rocker box lows. With 125 ft/lbs of torque, the M8 117 is amazing. You are looking over the top of 100mph before you blink.

An amazing array of safety features have been integrated called REFLEX™ DEFENSIVE RIDER SYSTEMS or RDRS. This new collection of technologies helps give you confidence and control in less-than-ideal situations. The systems utilize advanced chassis control, electronic brake control and powertrain technology to assist you with accelerating and braking in a straight line or while in a turn. Even a HOLD designation will lockdown a 950lb Ultra with two passengers on a San Francisco hill hands free! I suggest looking at their video online at https://www.harley-davidson.com/us/en/content/reflex-defensive-rider-systems.html

What’s more, the bike is built with the latest version of Harley Davidson-designed connect service and App, powered by cellular connectivity that’s based on a rider’s subscription. 

With this, you can check for the fuel level, receive notifications about faults and tamper alerts. You can also monitor and track a stolen vehicle. 

The bike features premium paint and finishes that have a great effect on the design of the device. It empowers the bike to produce an impregnably quality look that you don’t find among its peers out there.

With a gloss black or satin finish, H-D is built with a fugitive trademark cast aluminium wheels. The front side comes with a massive 19-inch road-worthy wheel while the rear area boasts an 18-inch finely finished wheel.

You would be amazed to hear that with as little as $40,539, you can have a brand new 2020 CVO street glide packed in your garage for instant delivery. That’s about the best price you can get in the market for a product of this perfect quality. 

   

What’s more, the bike is built with the latest version of Harley Davidson-designed connect service and App, powered by cellular connectivity that’s based on rider’s subscription. 

Chinese Harley-Davidson, Status of old motorcycles in Europe, Trade War and Tariffs on motorcycles and its parts, Off-Road Bikes on the Street and more.

Compiled & Edited by Bill Bish

National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)

The National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM) is a nationwide motorcyclists rights organization serving over 2,000 NCOM Member Groups throughout the United States, with all services fully-funded through Aid to Injured Motorcyclist (AIM) Attorneys available in each state who donate a portion of their legal fees from motorcycle accidents back into the NCOM Network of Biker Services (www.ON-A-BIKE.com / 800-ON-A-BIKE).

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from https://communityjournal.net

The H-D Museum will remain closed to the public until at least January 3, 2021

MILWAUKEE, USA (Nov. 20, 2020) – The Harley-Davidson Museum is announcing that beginning Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, the campus will be closed to the public until at least January 3, 2021. Additionally, the H-D Museum’s Holiday Weekend Sale originally scheduled for Nov. 27-29, will be postponed to a later date to be determined.

After assessing the City of Milwaukee Order 4.2 and the ongoing COVID-19 situation, the H-D Museum has made this decision in an effort to help keep guests and staff safe. The H-D Museum team will closely monitor the situation to determine a reopening date in 2021.

The H-D Museum website (H-DMuseum.com) and social channels will continue to connect with the community through virtual gallery talks, behind-the-scenes video vignettes and more engaging stories of innovation, perseverance and adventure. Additionally, enthusiasts are invited to visit The Shop online to purchase gifts.

MOTOR® Bar & Restaurant will also close beginning Friday, November 20, including carry-out and delivery operations, and will reopen when it’s deemed safe to do so.

Guests who have already purchased H-D Museum tickets may contact our staff at Tickets@H-DMuseum.com for information about rescheduling and refund availability.

Since the H-D Museum reopened in June, safeguards and protocols – including enhanced cleaning and sanitizing procedures, installing signage to encourage social distancing, requiring face coverings for all visitors and more – have been successfully practiced for the health and well-being of our guests and staff.

About the Harley-Davidson Museum
Discover culture and history through stories and interactive exhibits that celebrate expression, camaraderie and love for the sport at the Harley-Davidson Museum. A visit to the H-D Museum is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. With an unrivaled collection of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles and memorabilia, a 20-acre, park-like campus, and a calendar full of activities, the H-D Museum is one of Milwaukee’s top tourist destinations for visitors from around the globe. Make your plans to visit the Harley-Davidson Museum at H-DMuseum.com.

On November 23, 1936, the first issue of the pictorial magazine Life is published, featuring a cover photo of the Fort Peck Dam’s spillway by Margaret Bourke-White.

Life actually had its start earlier in the 20th century as a different kind of magazine: a weekly humor publication, not unlike today’s The New Yorker in its use of tart cartoons, humorous pieces and cultural reporting. When the original Life folded during the Great Depression, the influential American publisher Henry Luce bought the name and re-launched the magazine as a picture-based periodical on this day in 1936. By this time, Luce had already enjoyed great success as the publisher of Time, a weekly news magazine.

–from the History Channel

by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com

Very few bike makers out there (and by extension car makers) are innovative enough to give birth to new families of engines that inspire generations. Harley-Davidson is one of those that are, as its powerplants were at times as famous as the bike models assembled in Milwaukee.

Say the word Knucklehead, and the mind immediately links that to Harley. And it has done so since 1936, when the engine came into the world.

Named so after the shape of valve covers, Knucklehead has come to stand for the type of motorcycles that were made in Milwaukee from 1936 to 1947, when the Panhead engine replace it. The name is still very much alive because bikes powered by this type of hardware are still a craze in the custom bike industry.

And you know that to be true when guys like Andreas Bergerforth, the main man of Thunderbike, a German custom shop specializing in Harleys, has one built for himself.

Put together close to a decade ago, the Knucklehead Project, as the garage calls this build, has all the traits of a bike of its age. Not only does it stay true to a wartime-era two-wheeler when it comes to shape and tech, but it also brings with it enough patina and beat-down stance to speak volumes about its lineage.

We’re told that for this bike to be brought back in shape, the original had to be dismantled “up to the last screw” and only then, after some love and care, put back together – there’s no mention on whether some of the hardware had to be replaced with new one.

Because this bike was built for in-house use, Thunderbike makes no mention of cost, but the Germans do say similar builds snatched back in 2012, when this one was put together, some 30,000 euros ($35,500 at today’s exchange rates), so that should give you an idea.