Harley-Davidson reported 15.9%  increase in motorcycle revenue despite selling 9.1% fewer motorcycles over the first quarter of 2013.

According to the company’s first quarter 2013 report, Harley-Davidson recorded revenues of $1.15 billion from motorcycle sales, compared to $995.9 million in the same quarter of 2012.

At the same time, Harley-Davidson sold 54,254 motorcycles worldwide over the first quarter, down from 59,677 motorcycles in the same period last year. Harley-Davidson attributes the decrease to a longer winter this year as well as an abnormally warm spring in 2012. Motorcycle shipments to dealers, however, were up 17% to 75,222 motorcycles compared to just 64,263 motorcycles in the first quarter of 2012. Continue Reading »

To commemorate the 90th anniversary of Laconia Motorcycle Week, June 8-16, 2013, Laconia Harley-Davidson is launching a campaign to raise $30,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of the Lakes Region. To help raise the money, a customized Harley-Davidson Street Glide, donated by Laconia H-D, will be raffled off to one lucky winner. Continue Reading »

For some time now, Harley-Davidson has been trying to fight the stereotyped image of its customer base as being predominantly older, Caucasian males. Harley-Davidson‘s Stereotypical Harley campaign became a big part of the company’s advertising efforts in 2012, featuring real Harley-Davidson owners and showcasing the large diversity of its riders.

Fighting against preconceptions can be difficult but Harley-Davidson has some numbers to prove its motorcycles are popular with other demographics including young adults, women and minorities. Citing data from automotive industry research group Polk, Harley-Davidson says it was the market leader in the U.S. in 2012 for adults ages 18-34, women, African-Americans and Hispanics. And these are more than just a blip; they represent a continuing trend, going on for five consecutive years.

According to Polk, Harley-Davidson sold nearly twice as many street motorcycles to adults ages 18-34 than its nearest competitor in 2012. Harley-Davidson was also the most popular brand for American women, selling more street bikes to female customers than all other brands combined. The report also says nearly half of all street bikes sold to either African-Americans or Hispanics were Harleys. Continue Reading »

Japanese shop Bike-O is holding a draw with a rather unique grand prize: a used 2008 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide with a life-sized figure of anime character Fujiko Mine from the long-running anime and manga series “Lupin III“.

We’re not sure whether the motorcycle or the statue is supposed to be the bigger prize here, to be honest. Obviously, we’d rather have an actual road-worthy Harley-Davidson Electra Glide with a custom “champagne pink” paint job.

But you have to figure there’s a segment of the Japanese population that is more interested in the one-of-a-kind Fujiko statue. Continue Reading »

A leaked memo sent out to Harley-Davidson dealers reveals plans to drop several models from the company’s 2014 lineup. Slated to disappear are the XR1200X Sportster, the FXS Softail Blackline, and the FLHTC Electra Glide Classic. Also being discontinued, at least for 2014, is the FLTRX Road Glide Custom and FLTRU Road Glide Ultra, as the tourer models undergo a design refresh. The memo also indicates Harley-Davidson will drop the FLHRC Road King Classic in North America while discontinuing the FLHR Road King in other markets.

According to the memo, the changes were made to optimize the number of choices available, reduce product overlap, reflect marketplace dynamics and reduce model complexity in showrooms.

The most interesting news is the decision to redesign the Road Glide models. According to the memo, the company needed to update the manufacturing processes for the Road Glide, including replacing the fairing tooling. Since Harley-Davidson needs to retool, it made sense to give the Road King a design refresh at the same time. Continue Reading »

Harley-Davidson has sold its 531-acre private test track in Florida to the Chrysler Group for $7 million. The property, located off of Interstate 75 in Naples, Fla., includes six miles of track including a 2.1-mile straightaway and several buildings.

The track was originally built for Ford, with construction completed in 1992. Harley-Davidson purchased the track in 2002 for $6.5 million, but the track had been left mostly idle since Harley-Davidson moved its testing operations to a portion of a Chrysler-owned track in Kingman, Ariz., in 2008.

The Business Observer reports Harley-Davidson will lease a portion of the Florida track and 10,200 square feet of office space until June 30, 2019. Continue Reading »

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Aerosmith and country artist Toby Keith were introduced as headline performers along with the previously announced Kid Rock for Harley-Davidson‘s 110th anniversary celebration.

Each headline concert will be held at the Marcus Amphitheater at the south side of Henry Maier Festival Park (A.K.A. the Summerfest Grounds) in Harley-Davidson‘s hometown Milwaukee. Keith will headline the Aug. 29 show, followed by Aerosmith the next night Aug. 30, and Kid Rock on Aug. 31.

Harley-Davidson had previously announced 60 other acts performing over those three days including ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Joan Jett and Katey Sagal & the Forest Rangers. Click here for the rest of the performers previously announced for Aug. 29, 30 and 31. Continue Reading »

A Harley-Davidson dealership in Pueblo, Colo., suffered some serious damage after heavy winds from a spring storm ripped off the wall of the dealership’s second floor.

The 34,000 square-foot Outpost Harley-Davidson dealership on I-25 in Pueblo usually features a high front wall that sticks up above the building’s gable roof (see the “before” picture below). The damage occurred early in the morning and it’s not clear at this point if anyone was around when it happened.

Police are warning people to stay away from the area. Police also warn motorists about debris from the building flying across the Interstate. Continue Reading »

Harley-Davidson and Marvel Comics are teaming up once more for another cross-promotional promotion, this time in support of the upcoming film “Iron Man 3“. Harley-Davidson had previously worked with Marvel for last year’s “The Avengers” and before that, with 2011′s “Captain America: The First Avenger“.

For the third installment of the Iron Man series starring Robert Downey Jr., Harley-Davidson and Marvel announced the “Iron Man 3 – Man & Machine” contest. One winner will win a custom Street Bob, and will be featured, along with four other selected winners, in a special edition comic book as members of a motorcycle riding group of super heroes known as “Road Force”. All five winners will also receive a trip to Comic-Con International in San Diego for the unveiling of their comic book likenesses.

A similar prize was awarded for the “Assemble Your Freedom” contest for “The Avengers” where five winners were portrayed as members of Road Force (pictured above). The winners of the new Continue Reading »

Harley-Davidson released a preliminary list featuring some of the musical acts performing during the company’s 110th anniversary celebrations. The acts will share the stage at Milwaukee’s Henry Maier Festival Park (A.K.A. Summerfest Grounds) from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1.

The preliminary lineup includes 28 acts including ZZ Top, “Sons of Anarchy” star Katey Sagal & the Forest Rangers, Dropkick Murphys, Lupe Fiasco, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, the Doobie Brothers, and more. Harley Owners Group members will also receive access to a separate show at the Summerfest Grounds headlined by Lynyrd Skynyrd. These acts are in addition to the three headlining acts at the Marcus Amphitheater including the previously announced Kid Rock. Harley-Davidson says more acts will be added, bringing the final total up to more than 60.

“This is just the tip of the iceberg of the talent we’re bringing to town for the 110th Anniversary Celebration,” said Mark-Hans Richer , Chief Marketing Officer at Harley-Davidson.  “Stay tuned for the unveiling of even more bands, including two additional headlining acts.” Continue Reading »