News — motorcycle

In 1981, a group of company executives headed by chairman Vaughn Beals purchased Harley-Davidson for $85 million from AMF Inc. Their timing was dismal. Japanese producers began to flood the U.S. market with cheaper motorcycles, and Harley-Davidson was saddled with losses in 1981 and 1982. But, HD petitioned the International Trade Commission, and requested a trade tariff on heavy weight motorcycles to allow it to compete with the Japanese. They got it and while It took a number of years to turn it around, HD not only survived, but started growing.   In 1986, Harley-Davidson became a publicly traded company.  At that time the company...

Royal Enfield has been making motorcycle longer than any other motorcycle manufacturer in the U.S. and this weekend, the 115 year old motorcycle maker is opening up it's North American headquarters and retail store in Milwaukee Wisconsin, which also happens to be the home of the bar and shield, Harley-Davidson. "The enthusiasm around motorcycling itself as a lifestyle, is huge in the Milwaukee area," Royal Enfield North America President Rod Copes said. Copes said Royal Enfield and HD won't be competing for the same customers. "We compliment Harley-Davidson incredibly because we fall right underneath them. Our motorcycles are smaller, lighter and more...

Politicians, especially the good ones,  like to get out and press the flesh.  Over the Labor Day holiday break, one Michigan Senator says he plans to visit 12 counties in 5 days, all from the seat of his Harley-Davidson.  Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, said Tuesday he will take his Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide on the road during Congress’ Labor Day break and visit 12 Michigan counties over five days to talk about small business and manufacturing growth and expansion of critical infrastructure to support them. Peters, a member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and the Small...

There is a destination that is probably not on most bikers bucket lists, but should be. Healdsburg California, smack dab in the middle of the Sonoma Valley Wine country (www.healdsburg.com) For those of us raised on the East Coast, there’s something magical about northern California, with it’s towering forests of Redwood trees, rows up rows of grapevines and the unrivaled splendor that unfolds around every bend on the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)For me, this was the best case scenario. I received an invitation to tour the region as the guest of the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce during the anniversary of...

We don't know how you plan to make it into the record books, but if laying on a bed of nails while a couple dozen motorcycles ride over your body was in your plans, you might better reconsider and look for an easier record to break.  Check out this video as Burnaby Q. Orbax (what a great name) from the Monsters of Schlock spent 2 minutes laying on a bed of nails as 70...(yes, that's 7 x 10) motorcycles of all sizes and shapes, (but not surprisingly no Boss Hoss) ran over his body.  Alas we have to point out...