Harley-Davidson

Will 2020 mark a turnaround for motorcycle powerhouse Harley-Davidson?

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by Margaret Naczek from https://www.bizjournals.com For 117 years Harley-Davidson Inc. has led the market in motorcycles and continues to hold a dominant market share in the U.S. heavyweight motorcycle market. Despite its dominance in motorcycles, fewer people are buying bikes, and the number of U.S. riders are growing at a slow pace. For several consecutive quarters, the company faced declining sales, lower revenue and flat stock prices. With falling sales numbers, 2020 is becoming a pivotal year for the company founded in 1903. Harley has plans to grow riders to 4 million by 2027, from 3.1 million now, and invest in new markets with its More Roads to Harley-Davidson initiative, which launched in 2018. Some analysts, however, are uncertain of Harley’s ability to achieve such goals. “We are becoming a company that excels and exists to not only build great bikes, but to build riders,” Harley-Davidson CEO Matt Levatich said in the company’s fourth-quarter conference call. During the call, Levatich listed four target areas that the Harley plans to hit in 2020 to retain early riders, a category segment that the manufacturer has struggled with. The company plans using riders to recruit and coach new riders, allow early riders to experience riding opportunities on their own turn and on their own terms and solidifying rider commitment through experimental opportunities like overnight rides. New motorcycles such as Harley’s first electric motorcycle LiveWire, released in September 2019, or the new Pan America adventure touring bike and Bronx Streetfighter bike, which are expected to release late in 2020, are also part of the company’s efforts to turn U.S. motorcycle sales around and build a strong ridership base. At least one dealer is hopeful about the strategy. “It’s brave if you think about it,” said Goran Zadrima, regional manager at Milwaukee and West Bend […]

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Harley Davidson sells over 25,000 motorcycles in India

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Harley Davidson Street 750 was the first large-capacity motorcycle in India to become BS-VI compliant in the 750cc and above category. Premium motorcycle manufacturer Harley Davidson reported on Tuesday that it has sold more than 25,000 motorcycles since its inception in 2009. The company also informed that with this development, it completed a decade of operations in India. Commenting on this, Sajeev Rajasekharan, Managing Director, Harley-Davidson India, said, “When we first made inroads into India, our goal was to create a market for premium motorcycles, and we are proud to be the preferred choice for enthusiasts.” He also said, “Harley-Davidson has been successful in securing its market share over the last decade, despite an unpredictable market. With 33 dealers across the country, we have the largest dealer network amongst premium motorcycle brands in India and will continue to go onward and upward.” Rajasekharan further said, “We are thrilled about our journey over the last 10 years and are sure that the next decade will see more community building, innovations and launches from the H-D stable.”. Harley-Davidson Street 750 became the first large-capacity motorcycle in India to be BS-VI compliant in the 750cc and above category, claimed the company.

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Harley-Davidson’s stock tanks as motorcycle sales continue to slide

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by Paul R. La Monica from https://edition.cnn.com/ New York (CNN Business)Harley-Davidson has a big problem. Americans aren’t riding its trademark hogs nearly as much as they used to do. Shares of Harley-Davidson (HOG) fell 3% in early trading Tuesday after the company reported sales and earnings that missed Wall Street’s forecasts. The stock is now down more than 10% this year. Most alarming: Demand for Harley’s bikes continued to fall in the United States — even as they rebounded overseas. Harley’s retail sales in America were down 3% in the fourth quarter. That’s the 12th consecutive decline. US sales fell more than 5% for the full year. Sales were up slightly internationally, led by a more-than 6% jump in Asia. But that wasn’t enough to lift Harley’s worldwide motorcycle sales, which fell 1.4%. The weakness in Harley’s home market is particularly disappointing given that the United States and China have now reached a “phase one” trade truce. Harley has been complaining about tariffs put into place by the Trump administration for the past few years. President Donald Trump has also been critical of the fact that Harley — based in Milwaukee — had shifted some of its production outside of America to avoid tariffs in Europe that were put into place on the company in response to US tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump even supported a boycott of Harley by US consumers in 2018. But Harley clearly has bigger problems than global trade policy. The company is trying to revitalize its sales with the launch of its LiveWire electric motorcycle. Harley CEO and president Matt Levatich struck a hopeful tone in the company’s earnings release. “We see 2020 as the pivotal year in the transformation of Harley-Davidson. This year we will broaden the reach of our brand and build

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Building the H-D Juneau Plant

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From Woodshed to Red-brick Behemoth in Ten Short Years We’ve all heard the stories of how Harley-Davidson began life in 1903 in a Milwaukee woodshed on the site of what is now the headquarters of Miller Brewing Company. But with motorcycle production set to jump from around 1000 units in 1909 to nearly 30,000 by 1920, the Motor Company’s industrial digs had to change, and in a big way. CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE ON BIKERNET

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First Harley-Davidson Edition GMC Pickup in history introduced

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Milwaukee – Jan. 10, 2020 –Harley-Davidson Motor Company (NYSE:HOG) and Tuscany Motor Co. will introduce the first Harley-Davidson edition GMC pickup in history at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 11, 2020. Only 250 Harley-Davidson branded GMC® Sierra® trucks will be available through select authorized GMC/Tuscany dealers in North America.   “Fans have long hungered for a limited edition GMC truck that celebrates their passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles,” said Jeff Burttschell, Vice President, Tuscany Motor Co. “Working closely with Brad Richards, Vice President of Styling and Design at Harley-Davidson, we created a fantastic truck worthy of the Harley-Davidson name. For the first time in history, it will be possible to rumble down the road in a V8 powered Harley-Davidson edition GMC truck.”  The new pickup includes over 65 edition-specific components that make the 2020 model truck distinctly Harley-Davidson. The styling was inspired by the famous Harley-Davidson® Fat Boy® model.   “Harley-Davidson and GMC are two of the most recognizable and admired American brands in the world,” said Jon Bekefy, General Manager of Brand Marketing at Harley-Davidson, Inc. “We’re proud of the new Harley-Davidson edition GMC Sierra. It truly reflects Harley-Davidson’s passion for giving committed riders new ways to share their affinity for the brand and for riding.” The Tuscany team begins with a GMC Sierra truck and then installs many motorcycle-inspired components. These include Harley-Davidson branded 22” milled aluminum wheels styled and inspired by the Harley-Davidson Fatboy model, a custom tuned exhaust with Harley-Davidson exclusive solid billet aluminum tips, distinctive Harley-Davidson bar and shield badging, stainless steel Harley-Davidson gauges, billet pedals, two-tone diamond stitched and perforated custom leather seating surfaces, and official numbered Harley-Davidson center console badge. Additional edition-specific components that add to the aggressive look of the truck include, custom tuned BDS suspension lift with upgraded Fox

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Going electric could help revive the motorcycle industry

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by Peter Valdes-Dapena from https://edition.cnn.com/ Motorcycle sales, particularly in the United States, have been struggling ever since the Great Recession. As older riders lose interest, or simply become unable to ride any longer, the younger generation hasn’t been showing the same kind of enthusiasm. But the industry is hoping that electric motorcycles — with a quieter, simpler experience — might be the key to attracting new riders. For one thing, electric motorcycles are easier to ride. With an electric motor, there’s no need to shift gears. To experienced riders, that’s no big deal, but most Americans today have become accustomed to automatic transmissions and don’t know how to shift gears. “It’s just a lot easier learning curve,” said Susan Carpenter, a writer and radio host specializing in motorcycles. “You just hop on and twist the throttle. If you can balance, you can go.” Another benefit is that electric motorcycles are much less noisy than gasoline-powered motorcycles. To many veteran riders, the roar of the engine is part of the excitement. But a lot of other people would prefer to enjoy their surroundings much more peacefully. The bikes also don’t have hot engines and exhaust pipes that can become burn hazards, especially when parked around kids. Electric motorcycles also qualify for federal and state tax credits, similar to those for electric cars, although in smaller amounts. There are tradeoffs, of course. Electric motorcycles have the same disadvantages as electric cars, namely cost and range. Motorcycles can only accommodate small batteries so they have a lot less range than gas-powered bikes. And that range diminishes greatly during high-speed highway riding because the bike’s electric motor has to compensate for increased wind resistance pressing against the rider’s not-so-aerodynamic body. Hoping to get the attention of a new generation of riders, Harley-Davidson introduced the

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All-Terrain Adventure Bike from Harley-Davidson

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With Pan American 1250 – Harley Davidson breaks the Hog rules again The Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 was announced for launch in 2021 and the company’s Instagram suggests we might be able to see this breakthrough bike in dealerships in 2020. First offered for inspection at EICMA show 2019, the excitement is visible and strong. Brad Richards, Vice President of Styling and Design of H-D mentioned in an interview that they have built a Jeep with two-wheels. H-D is entering new market segments with two new middleweight models. One is the Pan America 1250 adventure and the other is a 975cc Bronx streetfighter. New Revolution Max engine will be offered in two displacement sizes. A smaller, 975cc engine will power the upcoming Bronx streetfighter, whereas a bigger 1,250cc will power the Pan America. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FIRST FEATURE OF PAN AMERICA Join the Cantina today – Subscribe Now!!! https://www.bikernet.com/pages/custom/subscription.aspx

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2019 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special Review

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Wild hogs can’t be broken No name in American motorcycling looms as large as Harley-Davidson, the longest continually operating motorcycle brand in the States. While it’s experienced its share of problems over the last decade or so, it’s continually working on updating and innovating. What is it about the Street Glide that makes it such a special machine? It’s got a massive 114 cubic-inch Milwaukee Eight engine that produces just 90 horsepower. CLICK HERE TO READ THE REVIEW ON BIKERNET.COM

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Harley-Davidson ridership course at UWM sees growth after second semester

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by Margaret Naczek from https://www.bizjournals.com/ Last spring, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offered its first Harley-Davidson one-credit ridership class through the College of Health Sciences. Four students enrolled the first semester followed by an additional 16 students in the fall of 2019. As students begin enrolling in classes for spring 2020, the director of the College of Health Sciences Ron Wiza said there are only four remaining slots available. As the program grows, so do the amount of motorcycle riders, coinciding with Harley-Davidson’s “More Roads Lead to Harley-Davidson” strategic plan. Part of Harley-Davidson’s plan is the Broader Access goal to “create new pathways to Harley-Davidson, expanding access and appeal to more people around the world.” The Milwaukee-based motorcycle manufacturer detailed that it hopes to create high-engagement customer experiences across all retail channels. The company’s “Amplify Brand” goal also encourages “enhancing the Harley-Davidson experience to inspire interest in riding, fostering Moto-culture and build an even bigger, more passionate community of Harley-Davidson riders.” The program began as a partnership between Harley-Davidson and UW-Milwaukee. The company connected Wiza with Milwaukee Harley-Davidson dealership at 11310 W. Silver Spring Road. “The other reason that we chose the Milwaukee Harley-Davidson location is because even though UW-Milwaukee is a commuter college where a lot of people don’t live on campus, there are still several thousand students that live in the surrounding community around UWM,” Wiza said, noting that it was important to pick a dealership that was either close to the campus or accessible on the transit line. “Here at UWM, we’re kind of an urban campus. One of our selling points is we are always encouraging students who attend our university to experience the vast array of things that Milwaukee has to offer,” Wiza said. “With that in mind, we strive to create partnerships and develop opportunities

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Duke’s Harley-Davidson closing in early 2020

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Duke’s Harley-Davidson is closing its doors early in the new year, but enthusiasts of the classic motorcycle will have a chance to get some holiday deals. The business, located just off Highway 40 South, between Chatham and Blenheim, was established in 2005 by local entrepreneur and motoring enthusiast Rob Myers. He said a lot of thought and consideration has gone into the decision to close the business. “As an absentee owner, I thank my staff for their incredible hard work and leadership over the last 15 years,” Myers said in a media release. “Duke’s is something I always thought would be a good business for a husband-and-wife team to be a partner of mine in, but I was never able to find the right partner,” he added. “I’ve always enjoyed Harleys, and to own Duke’s has been a fun ride, but it’s time to move onto new projects.” Myers received an early introduction to the motorcycling hobby after he traded his 1959 Edsel Corsair for a Triumph Bonneville motorcycle. From there, he went on to acquire other bikes and then a series of Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the last of which he still owns today. Myers’ passion for bikes and deal-making led him to build Duke’s Harley-Davidson. Following its closure, Myers will look for an appropriate tenant to re-lease the Duke’s Harley-Davidson building to. Holiday sales have commenced at the business, which also features motorcycle parts, accessories and Harley-Davidson clothing. Duke’s Harley-Davidson will fully honour any pre-existing agreements with customers regarding motorcycle storage and repairs, stated the media release.

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