India’s 13-million-unit-per-year motorcycle market is comprised of mostly small-displacement models, so it sounds odd at first when manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson and Triumph enter the market with their larger-displacment models. The question quickly arises as to whether they will stick with their existing big-bore models or introduce an all-new, small-capacity model for the Indian market.

Manufacturers like the Big Four from Japan already produce smaller models for other markets so it’s a relatively easy task for them to introduce new models such as Honda‘s recently launched 109cc Dream Yuga. Harley-Davidson and Triumph may be better served going after the 350-500cc segment and face off against competitors such as Royal Enfield.

Triumph is rumored to be developing a small, single-cylinder model for its impending Indian launch but don’t expect something similar from The Motor Company. Continue Reading »

Louisiana state lawmakers have approved a bill that would change the maximum height of motorcycle handlebars.

Current state law restricts handlebar height to no more than 15 inches above the seat, a somewhat arbitrary level, but a common choice with 17 other states. The House has voted 87-0 in favor of Senate Bill 582 to change the maximum height to the rider’s shoulder level, as measured while sitting on the seat. SB 582 was introduced by Democrat senators Rick Gallot and Gary Smith.

The shoulder-level limit is used by 12 other states, with Louisiana joining their ranks upon the approval of Governor Bobby Jindal. The new law makes the limit relative to the rider’s body whereas the existing limit affected all riders regardless of body size. Continue Reading »

A 2007 Harley-Davidson Road King Classic reportedly belonging to former University of Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino is up for auction.

Listed as salvage title, the Harley-Davidson is painted in the school’s colors and features a razorback boar – Arkansas’ mascot – painted on the fuel tank with the words “Hawg Wild”. Sports blog ArkansasaSports360.com reported it can confirm the bike was the one Petrino crashed April 1.

The crash was initially reported to involve just Petrino but it later emerged he was carrying a passenger, Jessica Dorrell, a woman he allegedly had an “inappropriate relationship” with, and later hired and given preferential treatment. Petrino was fired April 10 for not disclosing his relationship with his staffer when he hired her. Continue Reading »

Motorcycle tour operator EagleRider is launching a new program for non-riders. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, EagleRider offers motorcycle rentals and guided motorcycle tours. Until now however, you had to have a motorcycle license or ride as a passenger with another traveler who does.

The new Pillion Ride & Day Tours programs puts people on the passenger seat behind Motorcycle Safety Foundation certified tour guides who will show them the sights. As of now, the Pillion Ride & Day Tours are only offered from EagleRider’s Florida locations but the company plans to offer the program to other locations in the future. Continue Reading »

Harley-Davidson dealerships topped the rankings for the 2012 edition of the Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index, an industry benchmarking study examining how well dealerships treat customers, and turning shoppers into buyers.

The Pied Piper PSI rated different manufacturers’ dealerships in a number of categories to produce an overall score. The study was conducted between July 2011 and April 2012 with 1,653 anonymous “mystery shoppers” gathering information at different dealerships across the U.S.

The study gave Harley-Davidson dealers a score of 108, a four-point improvement from 2011 and five points above the industry average. According to researchers, Harley-Davidson dealers scored the highest of all brands in 16 different categories, including offering test rides, obtaining contact information and asking customers if for the sale. Continue Reading »

Harley-Davidson representatives in Japan have identified the owner of the motorcycle lost in last year’s tsunami but later found on a remote beach in Canada.

The 29-year-old owner, Ikuo Yokoyama, lives in Yamamoto, Japan, in Miyagi Prefecture, the region hardest hit by the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Yokoyama survived the disaster but lost three family members and is still living in temporary accommodations.

In an interview with Japanese station NHK, Yokoyama says he is thankful his motorcycle was found by British Columbia, Canada, resident Peter Mark.

“I found out at night from a friend and it kept me wide awake,” Yokoyama tells NHK. “I would like to thank the man who found my bike in person.” Continue Reading »

This fine young lady is one of four Playmate spokeswomen for The Ultimate Playboy Giveaway, Unlocked by Harley-Davidson.

Playboy has announced a sweepstakes contest that will grant one lucky slob the opportunity to party like a rock star with the 2012 Playmate of the Year. As if that wasn’t enough the contest winner will also take home a brand spankin’ new Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two.

Continue Reading »

A shipping container holding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle with Japanese plates was discovered on a beach in British Columbia, Canada. The container, which appears to be the cargo area of a box truck, is believed to be one of the first notable pieces of debris set adrift by the 2011 Japanese tsunami to land in North America.

Beachcomber Peter Mark discovered the containerwhile riding his ATV along an isolated beach on Graham Island, an island south of the Alaskan Panhandle.

“The door was ripped off it and I could see a motorcycle tire sticking out,” Mark told CBC News. “So I went closer and looked inside and saw a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.” Continue Reading »

Harley-Davidson reported a 20.3% increase in motorcycle sales over the first quarter of 2012, including a 25.5% increase in the United States.

According to Harley-Davidson‘s first quarter report, The Motor Company sold 59,677 motorcycles, worldwide, up from the 49,595 motorcycles reported in the same quarter of 2011. U.S. sales accounted for 39,762 units, up from 31,691 sold in the first three months of 2011.

Based on the industry-wide sales figures released by the Motorcycle Industry Council, Harley-Davidson accounted for approximately 36.3% of all first quarter motorcycle sales in the U.S. including about 51.6% of all streetbike sales. According to Harley-Davidson, more than a third of its sales were to customers who were new to the brand. Continue Reading »

Relations between the U.S. and Cuba have been strained for decades but that hasn’t stopped some Cubans from enjoying a piece of Americana.

About 70 Cuban Harley-Davidson riders (or “Harlistas” as they call themselves) gathered in the resort town of Varadero for the country’s first-ever Harley-Davidson rally. They represented some of the 270-300 Harley-Davidson motorcycles registered in Cuba, all built before 1960 when the United States initiated its embargo on the communist nation. Continue Reading »