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Royal Enfield aims to roll out uniquely differentiated electric bikes: CEO

with inputs by PTI and https://economictimes.indiatimes.com Iconic motorcycle manufacturer Royal Enfield is investing for development of differentiated electric motorcycles in India, said CEO B Govindarajan. Interestingly, the company is also creating a supplier ecosystem around its Chennai-based plant, funded by a capital expenditure of INR 10 billion in the current fiscal year. Royal Enfield has commissioned a very capable team and has started commitment of very deep investments in terms of product development, product strategy and in the product testing and development area, he added. Further, the CEO noted that the company has made a strategic investment in electric Stark Future EV company and now teams from both companies are working well. “Currently, we have laid a robust long-term product and technology roadmap on electric vehicles and towards developing the supplier ecosystem – its our focus as of now,” Govindarajan noted. When asked about network expansion in the domestic market, Govindarajan said the company currently has about 2,100 retail outlets across India, a mix of studio stores and dealership outlets. * * * * * * * * * * * * Stay updated, stay ahead of the curve. Sign up for the Weekly Newsletter from Bikernet Blog for free.

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Zero to Zen: The Health Benefits of Motorcycling

Good Vibrations & the Road to Wellness by Gary Mraz Naysayers are quick to spout the dangers of motorcycling but friends, countrymen lend me your helmetless ears. The psychological and emotional benefits of riding are real. Motorcycle riding also has physical health benefits. CLICK HERE To Read this article on Bikernet.com Subscribe to our Free Weekly Newsletter for updates on Motorcycle industry & events

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Harley-Davidson’s renewed focus on touring bikes drives upbeat forecast

by Reuters from https://www.investing.com U.S. motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) on Monday reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit and raised its full-year forecast for sales growth, as its focus on bigger and profitable touring bikes boost demand, sending its shares up more than 8%. Since the middle of last year, the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based company, which has struggled to grow sales for the past several years, shifted its focus to big bikes, traditional markets such as the United States and Europe, and older and wealthier customers. In February, the motorcycle maker unveiled a new turnaround plan that targets low double-digit earnings growth through 2025. The company said its retail sales, a measure of demand at its dealerships, surged 30% to 32,800 motorcycles in North America in its first quarter. Retail sales in Europe, Harley’s second biggest market outside the United States, slumped 36% to 4,900 motorcycles, due to the company’s decision to stop selling its smaller and less profitable Street or Sportster motorcycles and shipping delays as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company said lower sales incentives and a cut in its selling, general and administrative expense lifted its motorcycle business operating margin by over 10 points to 18.5%. It now expects motorcycles business revenue to grow in the range of 30% to 35% in 2021, up from its prior estimate of between 20% and 25%. Harley’s net income jumped over threefold to $259 million in the quarter ended March 28, from $70 million a year earlier. On an adjusted basis, the company earned $1.68 per share, beating analysts’ average estimate of 88 cents per share, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. The company’s revenue rose to $1.42 billion from about $1.30 billion.

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New Neurobiological Study Finds Riding a Motorcycle Can Decrease Stress and Improve Mental Focus

from http://www.healthnewsdigest.com The results of a neurobiological study, today published in Brain Research, yielded pioneering scientific evidence revealing the potential mental and physical benefits of riding a motorcycle. Researchers recorded participants’ brain activity and hormone levels before, during, and after motorcycling, driving a car, and resting. While riding a motorcycle, participants experienced increased sensory focus and resilience to distraction. Riding also produced an increase in adrenaline levels and heart rate, as well as a decrease in cortisol metrics – results often associated with light exercise and stress-reduction. “Stress levels, especially among young adults, continue to rise, and people are exploring pathways to better their mental and physical health. Until recently, the technology to rigorously measure the impact of activities like motorcycling on the brain didn’t exist,” said Dr. Don Vaughn, the neuroscientist who led the research team. “The brain is an amazingly complex organ and it’s fascinating to rigorously investigate the physical and mental effects riders report.” Results Highlights: Riding a motorcycle decreased hormonal biomarkers of stress by 25% Sensory focus was enhanced while riding a motorcycle versus driving a car, an effect also observed in experienced meditators vs non-meditators Changes in study participants’ brain activity while riding suggested an increase in alertness similar to drinking a cup of coffee “While scientists have long-studied the relationship of brain and hormone responses to attention and stress, doing so in real-life conditions such as these is rare,” explained Professor and senior team member, Dr. Mark Cohen. “No lab experiment can duplicate the feelings that a motorcyclist would have on the open road.” “The differences in participants’ neurological and physiological responses between riding and other measured activities were quite pronounced,” continued Dr. Vaughn. “This could be significant for mitigating everyday stresses.” Research Overview The research team monitored participants’ electrical brain activity and heart rate, as

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Harley-Davidson shifts strategy, to focus on core markets

from https://www.livemint.com The company’s shares climbed after the motorcycle maker’s new acting chief executive officer laid out plans to cut costs The stock had plunged 49% this year through Monday’s close Harley-Davidson Inc. shares climbed after the struggling motorcycle maker’s new acting chief executive officer laid out plans to cut costs and complexity and focus on the company’s strengths. The stock rose as much as 17% after the unveiling of a strategy dubbed “The Rewire,” which Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas said could make Harley one of few manufacturers to grow profits in the coming years. “It is clear to us that HOG will be less adventurous in terms of trying its hand at segments and markets where the brand faces extremely low chances of success with high up-front costs and high risks of brand atrophy that could threaten the company’s long-term survival,” Jonas, who rates the stock the equivalent of a buy, wrote in a report Tuesday. Jochen Zeitz, a board member and former CEO of sporting-goods maker Puma SE, took over as acting CEO at the end of February. He’s dialing back his predecessor’s turnaround plan to focus on expanding U.S. ridership, iconic profitable bikes such as the Adventure Touring and Streetfighter models, and electric motorcycles. Those goals echo the demands of an activist investor, Impala Asset Management, that reached an agreement calling for Harley to add an independent director to its board later this year. ‘Achievable Plans’ Harley “has become accustomed to over-committing and under-delivering; we need to set achievable plans and realistic goals,” Zeitz said during the earnings call. “It is clear that our strategy needs to be refocused to better align with our capacity and capabilities and also updated given our new reality.” Harley shares were up about 12% as of 11:53 a.m. in New

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