Many of today’s technology-driven, electrification, and social media-obsessed adults don’t relate as much as I do to the joy of the wind in your face on a petrol-propelled motorcycle. Their loss in my opinion. But, for those who get it, they know that Harley-Davidson enthusiasts like to get together, get to know each other and do a lot of riding. For those of us who live in Oregon, we clearly know that we have some of the best riding in all of the U.S., which means this year we get to share this gem of a state at a National H.O.G.® motorcycle rally. I’m talking about the Oregon Volcanoes H.O ..read more

Harley-Davidson reported better than expected quarterly profit today. Below are some of the highlights: Q2 had a profit of $206 million, GAAP diluted EPS of $1.33, up $1.93 over Q2 2020 Q2 H-D, Inc. total revenue up 77 percent over Q2 2020; Revenue from Harley’s motorcycles and related products nearly doubled to $1.3 billion North America Q2 retail sales up 43% over Q2 2020 and up 5% over Q2 2019 and Worldwide sales were up 24%. Delivered strong Motorcycles and Related Products (Motorcycles) segment gross margin and operating margin driven by product portfolio adjustments Delivered Financial ..read more

We all love our rides, but what about the dealers? If you wander into the forums, they are full of comments ranging from the good, the bad and even the ugly. Dealers stared into the teeth of COVID-19, mixed it up with the motor company’s revenue declines, layoffs, reduced bike inventory to bolster prices, which was followed by several dealers closing down including some Bar & Shield Circle of Achievement Award dealers, permanently. We all know it’s been a tough 14-months and that includes every Harley-Davidson dealer along with their employees. Adding to all of this, was corporate Harley-D ..read more

I posted previously about our ride to Ely, Nev. and touring the “Loneliest Road” enroute to the Road Glide National Rally: HERE. After a taste of authentic Americana on the Gold Rush–era highway that is part of the West’s last frontier, US Route 50, the group settled into base camp — the Carson Valley Inn & Casino.  We registered, set the A/C on high and searched through our bags of swag in preparation for the multi-day Road Glide National Rally (“Sharkweek XI”). Lake Tahoe The next morning was an abundance of gorgeous scenery and twisty roads in all directions around the ‘Jewe ..read more

U.S. Route 50 — NV Hwy 50 — “The Loneliest Road in America” I’m referring to U.S. Route 50, a black ribbon that stretches more than 3,000 miles across the country, from Ocean City, Maryland, to West Sacramento, California. It’s called “The Loneliest Road in America” for a reason and when you enter Nevada at the Utah state line it travels across 500 miles of Great Basin Desert. This was our early summer road trip along the historic Pony Express Trail en route to the Road Glide National Rally (aka: “Sharkweek“). Pony Express Trail The RoadGlide.org is a community dedicated to all Harley-Davi ..read more

It must’ve been an old dude who said it — “Artifacts are the starting fluid of memory.” Eight feet from my gear closet, just across from the work bench, stands a Chinese rollaway tool chest, Craftsman vintage 1990. It replaced my dented-in and rusty red Craftsman box that I’d been toting around since visiting a Sears & Roebuck store back in the day, and outgrew. Vintage 1980’s Craftsman Tool Box The big, black beast was a minimalist purchase as my tools started ending up in various cardboard boxes. I imagine your Chinese “steel box” holds a million memories. I know mine does!  An ea ..read more

Manufacturing Plant for Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 – York, PA As promised, here is a post on the Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250. I’ve previously posted on the Pan America all-new Revolution Max 1250 engine HERE. To recap, it’s a liquid-cooled V-twin with variable valve timing that produces 150 horsepower with 94 pound-feet of torque at 9,500 rpm and is attached to a six-speed transmission. The engine features maintenance-free valves, thanks to hydraulic valve lifters, crankshaft connecting-rod journals, offset 30 degrees creating a 90-degree firing order, forged aluminum pistons, a 1 ..read more

Harley-Davidson® Pan America motorcycles A lot has been written in the motorcycle media with photos of high mountains, plateaus, deep forests, beaches along the Pacific coast, fantastic riverbeds and deep mountain lakes that provide an epic backdrop for an exciting motorcycle launch. Of course, I’m talking about what has been labeled the “real deal”—a highly capable, uncompromising large-displacement Adventure bike—the Harley-Davidson® Pan America motorcycle. Harley-Davidson® Pan America motorcycle Journalists cheered… remotely of course.  There were tears and applause, then more tear ..read more

I’ve reached the stage of life where any compliment I get about appearance or physicality is accompanied by “for your age!” After indulging in that “rant” about China and not posting for a few weeks some wonder if I caught the “COVID.”  No, but I’ve been waist deep in the fine art of Harley-Davidson apathy, trying to get back on track… So, let’s talk about exec salaries and how the year+ of the pandemic “rained money”… and not the eco-dollar benefits of any ‘Green’ initiative. First, let’s establish a baseline. According to “Google”, the average Harley-Davidson salary ranges from approxim ..read more

Recall Notice: 21V225000 NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V225000 Harley-Davidson is recalling certain 2019-2021 Sportster (XL) motorcycles and 796 headlight assemblies that may have been sold as replacement parts for 2005-2019 Sportster, 2005-2017 Softail, 2005-2017 Dyna, and 2005-2011 V-Rod motorcycles. The glass bulb within the headlight assembly may fail, causing a loss of both high and low beams. Obviously, a loss of both headlight beams can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash. The interior of the bulb shield in an unknown number of XL Headlamp Assemblies, part number 68297-05A ..read more