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Norton Motorcycles Head Of Design Takes Aim At Ducati

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by Bryan Campbell from https://www.forbes.com Norton Motorcycles Head of Design Simon Skinner thinks the British brand has what it takes to go head-to-head with Ducati. Admittedly, Norton taking aim at Ducati is a very, very bold aspiration. Considering the Norton name is just as synonymous with bankruptcy and financial turbulence as it is with beautiful motorcycles, you’d be forgiven for taking the current brand revival with a handful of salt. I spoke with a refreshingly candid Norton Motorcycles Head of Design Simon Skinner via video call, who said this time will be different. While there is an incredible amount of bias in that claim, this time around there’s evidence elsewhere to back it up. Back in January 2020, Norton entered the UK equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The following April, the British brand was purchased by the third-largest Indian motorcycle manufacturer, TVS Motors. Now Norton has a new temporary factory in Birmingham, UK, is on a hiring spree and as Skinner puts it, ”the shackles have come off, in terms of design and innovation.” If this sounds at all familiar, there are similar plotlines going on at Jaguar Land Rover with Tata and Volvo and Lotus via Geely. Success isn’t guaranteed, but having a potent resource like TVS certainly helps. Speaking with Skinner, I wanted to hear just how Norton plans to not just take on Ducati and become its British equal. Bryan Campbell: Is Norton looking to follow Ducati’s lead on creating an accessible entry point with a Scrambler-esque model paired with top-tier sportbikes? Simon Skinner: Absolutely. We’ve already designed the 650cc parallel-twin range of motorcycles — the Atlas Nomad and the Ranger — and they are comparable to the Ducati Scrambler. Ours is probably a bit more modern, a bit more capable in terms of the geometry and […]

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All electric brand separate from the Harley-Davidson brand

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Harley-Davidson launches new electric-only LiveWire brand. Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire is no longer just a model, it’s a whole brand. The brand’s first dedicated model will debut on July 8. by Kyle Hyatt from https://www.cnet.com Pretend you’re Harley-Davidson for a minute. You’re the oldest continually operating American motorcycle manufacturer. You have legions of rabid fans acting as unpaid brand ambassadors. Your name is basically synonymous with motorcycling. Sounds good, right? Now, as Harley-Davidson, try and do something completely and utterly different than what you’ve done in the past. Now that history is working against you, and those loyal customers think you’ve betrayed the ideals of the brand they love. It’s a real Catch-22. You need to innovate, or you’ll die, but if you innovate, you make your core customers angry, and then you die. While things weren’t actually quite that dire for H-D, it’s definitely been tough. That’s pretty much what happened when Harley-Davidson launched the LiveWire electric motorcycle a few years ago. Now though, the folks in Milwaukee have decided to try a different route with the whole electric motorcycle thing, and that’s to spin LiveWire off into its own brand, according to an announcement Monday. New brand equals no baggage and that extra freedom to do new things could be just what Harley needs. “One of the six pillars of The Hardwire Strategy is to lead in electric – by launching LiveWire as an all-electric brand, we are seizing the opportunity to lead and define the market in EV,” Harley-Davidson CEO Jochen Zeitz said in a statement. “With the mission to be the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world, LiveWire will pioneer the future of motorcycling, for the pursuit of urban adventure and beyond. LiveWire also plans to innovate and develop technology that will be applicable to Harley-Davidson

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Harley-Davidson Launches LiveWire as independent Electric Motorcycle Brand

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Harley-Davidson Launches LiveWire, the independent Electric Motorcycle Brand (www.livewire.com) MILWAUKEE (May 10, 2021) – Harley-Davidson, Inc. (“Harley-Davidson”) (NYSE: HOG) today announces the launch of LiveWire as an all-electric motorcycle brand. LiveWire is more than a motorcycle. LiveWire plans to redefine electric, delivering the best experience for the urban rider, with personality and soul. LiveWire creates a unique connection between rider and vehicle. Today, the next chapter in the LiveWire journey begins. Jochen Zeitz, chairman, president and CEO of Harley-Davidson: “One of the six pillars of The Hardwire Strategy is to lead in electric – by launching LiveWire as an all-electric brand, we are seizing the opportunity to lead and define the market in EV. With the mission to be the most desirable electric motorcycle brand in the world, LiveWire will pioneer the future of motorcycling, for the pursuit of urban adventure and beyond. LiveWire also plans to innovate and develop technology that will be applicable to Harley-Davidson electric motorcycles in the future.” The first LiveWire branded motorcycle is scheduled to launch on July 8, 2021 and to premiere at the International Motorcycle Show on July 9, 2021. For more information and updates, register at livewire.com. Unique lineage: LiveWire draws on its DNA as an agile disruptor from the lineage of Harley-Davidson, capitalizing on a decade of learnings in the EV sector and the heritage of the most desirable motorcycle brand in the world. Motorcycles + beyond: with an initial focus on the urban market, LiveWire will pioneer the electric motorcycle space, and beyond. Virtual HQ: innovating by design and attracting industry-leading talent, LiveWire will be headquartered virtually, with initial hubs in Silicon Valley, CA (LiveWire Labs) and Milwaukee, WI. Marketplace: from launch, LiveWire will work with participating dealers from the Harley-Davidson network as an independent brand. An innovative go-to-market model

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Husqvarna motorcycles partnership with clothing brand Replay

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from https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com Husqvarna rides in ‘Replay’ edition of Vitpilen 701, 701 Supermoto and 701 Enduro LR. The bikes are in partnership with clothing brand Replay Swedish automaker Husqvarna has introduced a range special edition variants of Vitpilen 701, 701 Supermoto and 701 Enduro LR in partnership with Italian clothing brand Replay. The Vitpilen 701 is a cruiser with a large single – cylinder engine mated to a lightweight chasis. The 701 Supermoto takes things off road with a 74hp single-cylinder engine bound to a 148kg chasis. The 701 Enduro LR is for those who wish to go a bit further off the tarmac. The LR which stands for Long range is due to its massive fuel tank, nearly twice the capacity of the standard 701 Enduro. More details about the bikes are yet to be made public. The manufacturer has also promised that more models are on the way under the partnership with Replay that began in 2020. It marked the beginning of a new chapter for both Husqvarna Motorcycles and REPLAY, as Husqvarna Motorcycles re-entered the Moto3 World Championship, while REPLAY took a strategic step into the motorcycle sector, the statement read.

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Harley-Davidson hit with 56% EU tariff effectively blocking it from the EU market

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by Rick Barrett from https://www.jsonline.com Harley-Davidson hit with 56% EU tariff, an ‘unprecedented situation’ that will block the motorcycle maker from the market, CEO says Harley-Davidson Inc. has been slapped with a 56% European Union tariff on all its motorcycles, the company said Monday, effectively blocking it from the EU market. Harley said it would appeal the ruling scheduled to go into effect in June. “This is an unprecedented situation and underscores the very real harm of an escalating trade war to our stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic. The potential impact of this decision on our manufacturing operations and overall ability to compete in Europe is significant,” Jochen Zeitz, Harley chairman, president and CEO, said in a statement. Europe is Harley’s second largest market after the United States. “Imposing an import tariff on all Harley-Davidson motorcycles goes against all notions of free trade and, if implemented, these increased tariffs will pose a targeted competitive disadvantage for our products, against those of our European competitors,” Zeitz added. In 2018, the European Union placed a 25% incremental tariff (31% total tariff) on motorcycles imported into the EU from the United States. Under the latest proposal, the EU would place a 50% incremental tariff on U.S. motorcycles for a total tariff of 56%. The ruling would even apply to Harleys manufactured in Thailand, where the company had set up operations to get around the 2018 EU tariff. Monday, Harley posted a quarterly profit of $259 million, or $1.68 a share, up from $70 million, or 45 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Revenue rose to $1.4 billion from $1.3 billion a year earlier. “The actions we have taken to reshape the business are having a positive impact on our results, especially for our most important North American region,” Zeitz said.

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Is Harley Bringing Back The Nightster As A Custom 1250 Variant?

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by Dustin Wheelen from https://www.rideapart.com Harley-Davidson has kept its plans for the Sportster lineup under wraps for a few years now. Despite discontinuing the platform in Europe due to Euro 5 emissions standards and unveiling the Custom 1250 concept in 2018, the brand hasn’t officially announced the incoming model as the Sportster’s replacement. While the Motor Company has held its cards close to the chest up to this point, a trademark for the Nightster name might just be showing Harley’s hand. Originally released in 2007, the Nightster was previously a 1200cc Sportster variant. Featuring a bobber stance and styling, the trim appealed to cruiser riders looking for a stripped-down experience. By 2013, Harley discontinued the Nightster with variants like the Forty-Eight and Iron 883 carrying on the bobber aesthetics for the range. The company let its trademark rights laps on the Nightster name since, but a March 2, 2021, filing could put the title back at the bar and shield’s disposal (barring objections). The trademark submission hints at future plans for its Custom 1250 platform. With its entry-level model missing from numerous markets around the world, the Motor Company needs a fill-in for the long-in-the-tooth Sportster stat. Many see Custom 1250 as the perfect substitute for the air-cooled relic and it currently has a trove of Sportster monikers on demand. Harley already trademarked the 48X name when it secured rights to the Pan America and Bronx back in December, 2017. By applying for the Nightster trademark, Harley would have old, new, and current names on tap for the Custom 1250 production model. The fact that the company plans to use the name for “motorcycles and structural parts therefor” also solidifies its intentions for the Nightster revival. Whether or not Sportster name comes along with it is still the big question.

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The Official Harley-Davidson Suggestion Box

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We Want the Freedom Machine to Succeed The Future of Harley-Davidson – The Freedom Machine must live on into the Future. We are reaching out to readers for their suggestions for the future success of Harley-Davidson. We will collect notes and suggestions from brothers and sisters until we build a solid list of suggestions. Then we can share them with the factory. Let’s try to stay positive, no complaints about the factory or their newest models. Click Here to read this Article and send your Suggestions at Bikernet. Join the Cantina – Subscribe Today. https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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Car and Motorcycle Companies Now Making Electric Bikes

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by Roy Furchgott from https://www.nytimes.com They see branding opportunities as the pandemic and a desire by cities to curb traffic propel e-bike sales to new heights. The transportation industry has seen the future, and the future is 1895. That was the year Ogden Bolton Jr. of Canton, Ohio, was awarded U.S. Patent 552,271 for an “electrical bicycle.” A century and change later, electric bikes have gained new currency as car and motorcycle companies like Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Yamaha have horned into the market with their own designs. While the pandemic has accelerated bike sales, the overriding attraction is that cities worldwide are beginning to restrict motor traffic. These companies are betting that e-bikes are the urban vehicles of tomorrow — or at least vehicles for good publicity today. “In the past 12 to 18 months, you have seen a lot of new brands come into the market,” said Andrew Engelmann, an e-bike sales and marketing manager at Yamaha, which has been in the electric bike business since 1993 and claims sales of two million worldwide. “We in the U.S. have not seen this new energy toward cycling since Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France.” Credit the coronavirus pandemic, which has ignited bike sales of all stripes, but none so much as e-bikes. While retail unit sales of bicycles from January to October last year were up 46 percent from a year earlier, electric bikes were up 140 percent. Measured in dollars, regular bikes were up 67 percent and e-bikes 158 percent — so don’t expect a discount. Those numbers, from the market researchers at NPD, do not include online-only retailers such as Rad Power Bikes, so sales may actually be higher still. Ogden Bolton aside, there is a historical connection between bicycles and motorcycles. Many early

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Harley-Davidson Pan America Apparel Coming From Europe

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com It may be called Pan America, but Harley-Davidson’s biggest gamble in years requires a global reach to work. And we’re not talking from the sales perspective only, but from the partner companies’ point of view as well. Harley pulled the wraps off Pan America at the beginning of the week and announced it would be supporting the upcoming launch with a long list of home-brewed parts and accessories. It also secured the involvement of foreign companies, who were quick to jump on this new and shiny two-wheeled train. European apparel specialist REV’IT is one of them, and it will be making gear for Pan America riders, ranging from jackets and pants all the way to gloves and helmets. For all intents and purposes, they complement the other side of the coin, covered by Harley itself with the launch of luggage sets and accessories. “REV’IT! shares Harley-Davidson’s values in creating protective motorcycle gear that delivers functionality with refined style. Successful adventure touring gear delivers on providing protection, mobility, visibility, four-season versatility and storage, and this new gear was designed based on extensive REV’IT rider feedback and experience,” the company said in a statement. The REV’IT offer comprises two types of jackets and pants and two types of helmets. There are also boots and gloves on the table from the European supplier. Sadly, you will find no reference on pricing yet, as this piece of information was not released. The Harley-Davidson Pan America comes in two variants, 1250 and 1250 Special, both powered by the same 1,250cc engine from the Revolution Max family. The engine is rated at a maximum output of 150 hp, and that’s pretty good for motorcycles that tip the scales at 534 lbs (242 kg) and 559 lbs (254 kg), respectively.

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Erik Buell Says He’s Not Involved in the Buell Motorcycles Revival

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by Daniel Patrascu from https://www.autoevolution.com Last week’s announcement of the Buell Motorcycles revival caused a lot of emotion. Although mostly out from the public eye for quite some time now, the name is still entrenched enough in the public consciousness to hint that, had it not been for Harley-Davidson’s poor choices a decade ago, would have been a big player in the industry by now. The revival of the moniker is fueled by the company holding control over it, Liquid Asset Partners (LAP). The comeback was announced by LAP’s Bill Melvin, who hinted at the revival and a flood of no fewer than ten models over the next three years. Those are said to range from dirt to touring bikes, and from dual-sport to cruisers. There’s possibly even an electric two-wheeler in the cards. The official announcement left out any indication of Buell’s founder, Erik Buell, being involved in this. That led to speculation in some circles that the former Harley-Davidson employee might have a role to play. He doesn’t, of course, and made that perfectly clear in an email sent over to Road Racing World. Buell Motorcycles was born in 1983 in Michigan, and by the 1990s, it was already beginning to become part of Harley-Davidson. As usual, the Milwaukee monster messed up a lot over the following decade, and in 2009 it killed Buell as a brand. Erik calls this outcome the result of unwise choices made by Harley’s executives. Having lost Buell, the man moved on to create Erik Buell Racing, but for various reasons, that business failed too, and it eventually crossed over to LAP. Presently, Erik Buell is involved in a company called FUELL, in the business of making electric “urban mobility solution for cities.” He says he has nothing to do with LAP’s announcement

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