With a history of posting annual sales losses piling up, the recession hit the Milwaukee company hard and forced it to sell off its holdings in MV Agusta closing down the Buell Motorcycle line in order to keep its core business unit operating.

But in the second fiscal quarter of 2011, Harley-Davidson posted its first year-to-date growth since 2006, and the Motor Company brand continued that trend throughout the rest of the year and finished the last quarter of 2011 with sales up 10.9% worldwide (11.8% in the US) over the previous year, Harley-Davidson finished the year strong with sales up 5.9% worldwide and sales in the United States up a similar 5.8% for units sold.

The total unit volume of 235,188 bikes being sold worldwide broke down to 151,683 units sold in the US and 83,505 units sold internationally, and during Q4 2011, Harley-Davidson sold 40,359 units worldwide while 23,753 of those units were sold to US buyers. Sales were also solid outside the US with 16,606 units sold internationally in Q4 2011. That represents an uptick of 9.7% over the same quarter of the previous year.

Those solid sales numbers meant Harley-Davidson posted some some gains on the bottom line in the bargain. Though they took a $46.7 million loss in net income for Q4 of 2010, Harley-Davidson reported a positive net income of $105.6 million and it was that increase which helped Harley-Davidson quadruple its net income for 2011, as the Motor Company brand made $599.1 million in net income. No small change, that, as compared to the $146.5 million in net income the company made in 2010.

Totaling $4.6 billion in revenue for 2011 (11.6% over the $4.1 billion it hauled in for 2010) Harley-Davidson performance can be attributed partially to dramatic sales increases domestically and abroad, but the real lynchpin of the numbers was the fact that the company saved several hundred million dollars in expenses due to a comprehensive restructuring effort which pushed Harley back to consistent profitability.

The expectations? That Harley-Davidson expects to ship 240,000 to 245,000 bikes worldwide in 2012, and that would be a 3% – 5% increase over last year. For Q1 of 2012, Harley-Davidson expects to ship 58,000 to 63,000 bikes to dealers worldwide to open the year.

It might just be better than that if a couple of new models keep the revival moving forward.

The two new motorcycle models, the Seventy-Two and the Softail Slim, were inspired by what the company thinks is a move by buyers toward favoring a “garage-built” custom motorcycle look. They should be available immediately at authorized Harley-Davidson dealers.

The Harley-Davidson Seventy-Two

Based on the Harley-Davidson Sportster, the Seventy-Two will feature a sparkling, metal flake color option, a solo seat and side-mount license plate bracket, a bobbed rear fender and the whole beast will be moved along by the Evolution 1200 cc V-Twin powertrain finished in gray powdercoat with chrome covers and a new round air cleaner with a dished cover. Also in the mix, a Sportster 2.1-gallon fuel tank, narrow white wall tires, chrome laced wheels, and high mini-ape handlebars. The whole thing is supposed to look like the chopper customs of the 1970s.

Harley-Davidson Softail Slim

This is Harley-Davidson’s attempt to pare a Softtail chassis down to essential elements along the lines of the custom bobbers of the 1950s. Featuring a trimmed-down front fender and a narrow rear end, a solo seat and very little chrome. Hollywood handlebars and a headlight nacelle are finished in gloss black, a period “cat’s eye” tank console, half-moon rider footboards, and gloss black wheel rims and hubs complete the hot rod look. Harley’s 1690 cc Twin Cam 103B powertrain will sport polished covers instead of chrome, and the the Softail chassis is set up to ape the clean lines of a vintage hardtail frame. They kept the rear suspension control which is provided by coil-over shock absorbers mounted horizontally and out of sight within the frame. A 23.8-inch seat height and rider foot boards make this bike ideal for a wider range of riders large and small.

Related posts:

1. Harley-Davidson Back In the Game, Sales Up 5 Percent in Q1
2. Harley-Davidson Q2 2011 Results Suggest The Company Ain’t Dead Yet
3. Harley Davidson Recall, Production Problems Plague Milwaukee Firm

Jon Shipley’s “Whiskey Bent,” which sports a copper oil tank fed by some hilland-holler country copper tubing, an antique brass headlight and a wooden bar stool for a seat, took the FreeStyle Class Ultimate Builder winner prize.

“Whiskey Bent,” created by Hoosier Daddy Customs out of Louisville, KY, moves down the road courtesy of a 1000cc 1977 Ironhead V-Twin engine. With a jockey shifter and a wooden handle topped by a shot glass, “Whiskey Bent” is built around a custom frame and the swingarm was stretched to match the lines of the frame, all details which cap off the vintage look.

Shipley put it all together and his stylish effort earned him the three-grand top prize.

Now it’s off to Minneapolis as The Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Shows move north this weekend.

Think your bike has what it takes to compete with the masters of motorcycle customs? You’ve got time to enter your bike in the next round of the show, and you can do it by signing on at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show website here…

Photos by Sam Kanish of Iron Works

Tips for Buying Custom Motorcycle Insurance

Custom motorcycles require the correct insurance coverage package to protect what is, after all, a significant investment on your part .

We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance for your custom bike…

Tips for buying motorcycle insurance for your custom:

• Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
• Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
• Towing / Pickup
• Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.
• Additional coverage to replace or repair accessories specific to your bike.

Related posts:

1. Progressive International Motorcycle Shows Are Heading Your Way And Bringing the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show
2. The Teutels Vs Jesse James – Bike Builder Cultures Clash
3. Celebrity Chopper Builder Shows Have Officially Jumped the Shark

While I don’t have a problem with folks riding a stock machine, there’s just something about seeing a bike someone has lovingly mangled and managed with their own two hands that pulls me in to the story line.

It’s one thing to see that kind of stuff happening in the home of the custom motorcycle culture – the Good Ole US of A – it’s another entirely to read about someone who’s done the custom deed to their bike in a society where such “antisocial” activity is a little more rare.

Case in point, this machine, The Firestarter from “Mountain Ram” in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

When Ram sent me the photos of what was once a bone-stock Harley XL883 Sporty, I was digging it, but when I looked at the background of the photos, I saw something I found more interesting – some native plants and architecture that didn’t look California, Texas or Florida to me.

And I was right on that score, so I asked a few questions to get to the heart of the matter.

First, I wanted to know if there were more in “production,” and the answer was “there are no more like it on the lift, because there was never a lift to begin with. This is a humble ‘garden garage’ build just at the entrance of our building.”

And Ram offered some other details about his build as well.
“‘Firestarter’ is my first custom project, based on a brand new 2008 HD Sportster XL883R,” he wrote. “I – along with my brother – make up a visionary joint more than a full-fledged garage and workshop. The way it all started was through an article featured in another custom-enthusiast magazine (Hot Bike) on a $1,000 budget built custom. Visions in my mind toggled back and forth between bobber, chopper, or cafe racer. This ‘virtual’ designing and scheming in my mind took quite a while, before it finally reached the vision of the finished bike. That vision kept flashing back in my mind, until it was anchored there; unchanged, unaltered. That’s when I knew that this is the design I was set on, and that I had to start implementing it.”

So there you have it. Why build a custom bike? Because if you have the Jones, there’s no other option.

What got Ram going on the idea of a custom bike build? The same set of parameters that got most of us hooked.

“I was infatuated with the hot rod and rat rod cultures, and wanted (this bike) to be the opposite of everything the Nightster was,” he said. “If the latter had dragbars and was slammed down low front and rear, I wanted the R to have a taller front end with high apes. The Nightster was clean and refined, and I wanted the Firestarter to be ratty, raw, and unfinished. Rock’n'Roll played an important part in influencing – let’s say – the attitude of the bike. To me, nothing spelled in-your-face rebel recklessness more than The Prodigy’s Firestarter song. Frontman Keith Flint’s punky attitude in that video was what I wanted my ride to be.”

So there you have it, the classic formula. Outlaw feel, rock and roll attitude; something bordering on pure anarchy in the UAR.

So how did Ram select the details which went into creating his vision of a Sporty where the factory look was left far, far behind?

“I refused the fairing made specifically for the Sportster and some Dyna models offered by Harley Davidson, and I was obstinate in wanting a Nightrod fairing, due to its slimmer, more streamlined profile,” Ram says. “For the paint scheme, I wanted a scheme that came from Black Label Society guitarist and vocalist Zakk Wylde’s infamous guitar with the swirl, so that’s where I went with the colors.”

Some of the other selections, like customizing a dropdown bracket to lower the ChopperShox mini shocks and seatpan about 1″, fabricating a bracket to hold the Nightrod’s headlight fairing; chopping, modifying, reshaping and louvering the rear fender and cranking out a custom made sissy bar which completes the chunky look, were pure Ram. Some bits, like a No School Choppers 40X taillight, required custom modification to fit properly without hitting the Biltwell 10″ rigid struts, ignition hop-ups, one-off custom modified mufflers and a custom Chopper Dave x66 air cleaner and SE neck assembly put the icing on the cake.

The shifting is handled jockey-style using a pistol grip Hurst and a LaBriola foot clutch. Does it get any hot rodder than that?

So what’s up next to take a slot on the lawn in front of Ram’s house in Jeddah?

“A cafe racer project is simmering in my mind; the final installment to my Sportster trilogy, and then maybe I move to what will probably be my first ground-up build, hopefully to be entered in the AMD custom bike world championship of…. 2015, to be realistic,” he said.

Related posts:

1. Riding Ten Up On A Custom Harley To Sturgis
2. Winners of the 2011 AMD World Championship of Custom Bike Building
3. What Money And Carbon Fiber Can Do The Mansory Zapico Custom Motorcycle

Steve ‘Doc’ Hopkins on the smaller version of his Communal Rider Harley

When Steve “Doc” Hopkins takes his bike out for a spin, he can count on moving nine of his best friend with him. How? He takes his custom-made, 10-seat amalgam of Harley Davidson history. The bike is 24-feet-long and features seven different engines, a few of them which date back 100 years into the past.

“It’s like a rolling history of Harley Davidson’s engines — since 1909 to present,” said Hopkins. “In 1909, Harley Davidson came out with the first v-twin. And that’s what this bike reflects, is the first v-twin on up to through brand new twin cam.”

Creating wild Harleys is nothing new to Hopkins, he’s also built a five-seat (in the photo above), four-engine HD he rode in Harley Davidson’s 105th anniversary parade in Milwaukee.

Featuring a total of seven air-cooled Harley-Davidson Big-Twin engines manufactured from 1909 to the present, Doc’s bike seats 10 people and totals a whopping 538 cubic inches running along on two front wheels, two rear wheels and driven by an enormous 40 feet of chain.

I’m guessing that if that chain breaks, it might be hard to find one at the local dealer…

Custom Motorcycle Insurance

Custom motorcycles require the correct insurance coverage package to protect what is, after all, a significant investment on your part .

We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance for your custom bike…

Tips for buying motorcycle insurance for your custom:

• Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
• Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
• Towing / Pickup
• Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.
• Additional coverage to replace or repair accessories specific to your bike.

Related posts:

1. Twin Jet Engine Board Tracker Harley – Bike Find of the Day
2. The Silent Grey Fellow – Bike Find of the Day – 1912 Harley-Davidson Model B Silent Grey Fellow
3. Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show Heads North to Minneapolis

Here in Michigan, we love motorcycles. We have a long tradition of events, some of which, like the Mt. Garfield Hillclimb and Muskegon Bike Time, which enjoy some national renown.

Hillclimbing pits riders against the clock – and each other’s times – to complete what are generally vicious uphill courses. One of the oldest forms of motor racing, the first known relatively organized hillclimb event took place at La Turbie near Nice, France back in January of 1897 shortly after the invention of the motorcycle.

While the popularity of the sport continues to wax and wane, the appeal to riders and serious motorcyclists has endured.

A hillclimb held at Shelsley Walsh, in Worcestershire, England currently stands as the world’s oldest continuously staged motor racing event still held on its original course. First run in 1905, the Shelsley Walsh event draws huge crowds.  The longest permanent hillclimb in the United Kingdom is located at Harewood in West Yorkshire, and the track runs a brutal and astonishing total of nearly nine-tenths of a mile.

Apart from the classic “hillclimb” event as it is generally arranged in the US, there are road-based hillclimb events which also include classes for cars like the annual Pike’s Peak run.

Whether you ride a sport bike or an American cruiser, your insurance needs can get complicated.

We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance, whatever you ride…

Tips for buying your motorcycle insurance, coverage you need:

• Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
• Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
• Towing / Pickup
• Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.

Related posts:

1. Motorcycle Ice Racing In Michigan – The Coolest Motorcycle Video You’ll See
2. The Most Expensive Motorcycle In History – A 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer
3. MotoGP 2012 Season Calendar Released

Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, accused in the killing of Jeffery “Jethro” Pettigrew as a member of the rival Vagos motorcycle gang from San Francisco, says yes.

Gonazalez stands accused of murdering the president of the Hells Angels’ San Jose chapter during a shootout on Sept. 23, 2011, and he pointed the finger at the mob.

Gonzalez’ attorney asked a judge at a hearing in Reno to order prosecutors to release the name of another Vagos member who testified before the grand jury that indicted Gonzalez.

Prosecutors say that request is a no-go as the man fears for his life and is on his way into the witness protection program.

An investigator testified that another Vago wounded in the shootout was in contact with a member of the Mafia back in October and gave the wise guy documents related to search warrants issued for members of the Hells Angels, and that those documents may have touched off the ill-will that led to Pettigrew’s murder.

Three other men charged in the casino shooting death are due back in court in Reno, and prosecutors and public defenders will argue now about the ground rules for the murder trial scheduled to begin this fall.

Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer added that she’s considering whether or not to ban clothing or symbols with references to the motorcycle gangs inside the courtroom in an attempt to avoid any further violence between members of the rival motorcycle gangs.

Related posts:

1. Arrest Made in Killing of Hells Angels San Jose Gang Chief
2. Hells Angels, Vagos May Be Prohibited From Wearing Colors to Support Member Accused in Casino Killing
3. Video of the Hells Angels vs Vagos Killing in Nevada From Casino Security Tapes

But have no fear, they’ll do it for you…

And they purchased one of 46 ‘Harley Hearses’ (from the Tombstone Hearse and Trike Co) to get you to your final rest in style.

Larry Omps said he decided to buy the hearse after seeing one at a trade show in Chicago a few years ago.

“I said then that I couldn’t see it getting that much interest, but I’ve changed my mind over the years,” Omps said. ” I like to make funerals as personal as I can make them.”

According to Omps, the trikes are custom-built to pull the hearse.

“It starts out as a Road King,” he said, as presumably did the prospective passengers.

One funeral assistant says he turned on the LED lights festooned about the machine one evening and cagers sped up to gawk at him as he drove along.

Did your bike not get enough attention while you were alive? No worries there as the vehicle has  hardwood flooring and glass sides to allow all to see you in your less active state and LED lights tastefully illuminate the casket which will bear you to that Great Bike Night in the Sky during your night funeral.

At $78,000 each, you’ll be a passenger on your last ride on a much, much more expensive bike than you could ever afford while you were alive, so there’s that, at least. Slightly more tricked up versions of the hearses run $80,000 to $100,000.

Jack Feather runs Tombstone Hearse and Trike and he’s the man who builds these conveyances. Feather started the company in 2001.

“We’re finding that 27 percent of the people riding these things for their final journey have never even been on a motorcycle,” Feather said.

And it seems likely those 27 percent never will, as they are, well, sort of riding ‘bitch’ on that last journey.

Feather said his hearses take a couple of months to build.

Custom Motorcycle Insurance

Custom motorcycles require the correct insurance coverage package to protect what is, after all, a significant investment on your part .

We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance for your custom bike…

Tips for buying motorcycle insurance for your custom:

• Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
• Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
• Towing / Pickup
• Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.
• Additional coverage to replace or repair accessories specific to your bike.

Related posts:

1. Ontario Cop Back On Hot Seat For Collusion With Hells Angels
2. Billy Idol Should Probably Quit Riding While He’s Ahead
3. Does What Kind of Bike You Ride Determine Your Safety? The Statistics Say Yes

It seems “American Choppers” star Paul Teutul Sr. will be appearing on yet another television reality show as he joins the cast of the upcoming season of “Celebrity Apprentice.“

Teutul, of Orange County Chopper‘s fame, will be competing in the 12th season of Donald Trump‘s horrible reality show. This will be the fifth incarnation to feature a cast of celebrities (or B-listers, depending on how you judge the threshold for that), and each of them will compete for their chosen charity.

Following the tired and true formula for the show, contestants will work in teams on a different business-related challenges on each episode, followed by the amazingly hirsute Trump “firing” a member of the team that does the worst job on a particular challenge.

Teutul will hand over any winnings to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The roster of “celebrities” this time around? American Idol contestant Clay Aiken, IndyCar driver Michael Andretti, radio and TV show host Adam Carolla, actress Tia Carrere, Lou Ferrigno from Incredible Hulk, 80s pop star Debbie Gibson, Teresa Giudice of  Real Housewives of New Jersey, and Victoria Gotti, the former mobster’s daughter.

Other contestants include former talk show host Arsenio Hall, magician Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller fame, insult comic Lisa Lampanelli, 2008 Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza, singer Aubrey O’Day, Dee Snyder of the band Twisted Sister, George Takei from “Star Trek”, and models Cheryl Tiegs and Patricia Velásquez.

The new season of “Celebrity Apprentice” premieres Feb. 12 on NBC.

Custom motorcycles require the correct insurance coverage package to protect what is, after all, a significant investment on your part .

We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance for your custom bike…

Tips for buying motorcycle insurance for your custom:

• Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
• Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
• Towing / Pickup
• Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.
• Additional coverage to replace or repair accessories specific to your bike.

Related posts:

1. A Different Kind of Wining For American Chopper Star Paul Teutul Jr
2. The Teutels Vs Jesse James – Bike Builder Cultures Clash
3. Progressive International Motorcycle Shows Are Heading Your Way And Bringing the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show

By most measurable metrics, the boys from Milwaukee are headed in the right direction, the stock price and earnings results are mostly positive and the design team is coming out with bikes people under the age of 60 want to ride.

On the red ink side of the ledger? They’ve cause some waves and negative publicity with money-saving layoffs designed to cut wages for their work force and their bikes are still too expensive.

When I opened up my email today, I was confronted with the following four stories from the web, and they were actually presented in the order you’ll see below, so I leave it to you to be the judge.

What does this kind of news say to me? It’s says it’s a good time to make motorcycles but a damn tough time to be selling the product to the riding public…

HOG Futures Up?

New York, January 4th

(TradersHuddle.com) – Shares of Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) closed the trading session at $39.33 just above calculated resistance at $39.22 effectively breaking out, grabbing the attention of momentum traders, which could eventually push the stock to different trading range

Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) manufactures and sells motorcycles. Its products include heavyweight touring, custom, and performance motorcycles, as well as a line of motorcycle parts, accessories, and general merchandise.

Harley-Davidson’s stock was trading in a well defined range with support at $36.06 and resistance at $39.22, given that this range was broken traders will be closely monitoring the stock.

 Harley-Davidson shop in Christiansburg has closed

Jan 04, 2012

(The Roanoke Times – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX)

New River Valley Harley-Davidson in Christiansburg has closed after three years in business.

Loyd and Kathy Shiffer, who have sold motorcycles in the Roanoke Valley since 1982, opened the Christiansburg store in 2008.

The Christiansburg store, at 2700 Roanoke St., closed Saturday and has merged with Roanoke Valley Harley-Davidson on Peters Creek Road in Roanoke, said manager Zack Shiffer.

(c)2012 The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, Va.) Visit The Roanoke Times (Roanoke,
Va.) at www.roanoke.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

Copyright (C) 2012, The Roanoke Times, Va.

Cape Town’s premier Harley-Davidson dealership has been liquidated.

January 4th, 2012

Harley-Davidson Cape Town, in Somerset Road, closed down on December 20 and was placed under provisional liquidation in the Western Cape High Court on Tuesday, following a court application brought by Turnsil Investments, which owns the store.

According to court papers, the dealership’s motorcycle sales had declined over the past three years and it presently had a shortfall of more than R2.5 million.

According to an affidavit by Jason Nicol, one of the Green Point branch’s directors, they needed to sell about 200 motorcycles a year to sustain the business.

Sales figures had steadily declined since 2006 and 2007, during which years it sold 214 and 222 motorcycles respectively.

Sales dropped to 170 in 2008 and 141 in 2009. In 2010 the dealership sold only 80 motorcycles – 64 percent fewer than in 2007 – and in 2011 it sold 100 motorcycles.

Nicol said they had attempted to secure additional funding from banks, private companies and automotive groups, without success.

“Between 2006 and 2011, the number of sales of motorcycles effectively halved. The only explanation for this is the global financial crisis,”he said.

Harley-Davidson set to see decent profitability growth

January 4th, 2012

Harley-Davidson (HOG) faces demographic headwinds, an uncertain global economic environment, and increasing competition, which could make for a choppy ride in the near term. Still, we think the motorcycle manufacturer is set to see decent profitability growth once consumers recover from the economic downswing and are willing to once again spend on big-ticket items. We believe the shares are currently about fairly valued, but given a wide enough margin of safety, we would be buyers as we start to see stability in the employment and overall economic picture.
We believe operational changes are key to improving profitability over the long term. Management has made great strides in creating a best-in-class manufacturing process. Its new lower cost structure provides additional flexibility, which allows Harley to adapt production to marketplace demand and outsource processes when it makes competitive sense to do so. The company’s restructuring is expected to yield savings of $300 million annually–equivalent to 7% of the total expense base. Harley’s transformation strategy also includes two brand-boosting goals: improving brand acceptance by extending customer outreach, and maintaining leadership in the cruising and touring segments by increasing loyalty through innovative products and services.

The company’s high-level financial objectives seem reasonable. Management aims to outperform the S&P 500 over time, increase earnings at a faster rate than revenue, and run a high-margin, high-return business. A few years ago we might have doubted these targets, but since CEO Keith Wandell took the helm in 2009, the manufacturing business has undergone major changes which, in our view, reset the company’s earnings potential trajectory. The focus on increasing revenue through introducing new products and reaching a wider audience via international expansion makes us feel better about potential top-line gains over the longer term.

While shipments have reset to lower normalized levels, Harley can still squeeze out decent margin gains. Motorcycle demand remains soft, but we think management has taken appropriate steps to keep the company strong. Domestic shipments in the most recent reported quarter were still off more than 40% from the peak–there were 273,000 bikes shipped domestically in the trailing four quarters ending December 2006 and 146,000 bikes shipped in the trailing four quarters ending September 2011. But the company is still quite profitable, and the operating efficiencies that it has implemented will further rightsize the manufacturing capacity for market demand that might remain depressed for at least a few more years. We expect operating margins will return to their 10-year historical average of 21% in 2012, up from 4% in 2009.

So you just bought a brand new Harley-Davidson off the showroom floor and you’re going to need motorcycle insurance to take care of it if anything turns ugly. It’s not easy finding the right insurance for your bike, and you could use a little help.

We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance, whatever you ride, so check out our Definitive Guide to Buying Motorcycle Insurance. It’s free…

Related posts:

1. Harley-Davidson Back From The Lost Years After Restructuring
2. Harley-Davidson Q2 2011 Results Suggest The Company Ain’t Dead Yet
3. Is Harley-Davidson Stock A Good Buy For Investors? The Market Says Yes

Leroy Taylor of Battle Creek was pronounced dead some time around 6 a.m. Sunday at the Iron Coffin Motorcycle Club and Police say a 32-year-old man,  who himself suffered a stab wound, is in custody and could be charged with murder. The injured man, Mathew Thomas Starkweather, was treated at an area hospital. Starkweather was arrested on charges of open murder on Sunday following the fight at the Iron Coffins Motorcycle Club.

Starkweather was charged in the death of Leroy Taylor, 45, of Battle Creek, who was killed in an altercation early Sunday morning at the Iron Coffin Motorcycle  Club location at 15 Gilbert St.

Detective Sgt. Austin Simons of the Battle Creek Police Department said the cause of Taylor’s death has yet to be determined.

“The medical examiner hasn’t been there yet,” Simons said.  “We can tell he’s (Taylor) got some trauma to the face.”

Witnesses say Taylor’s wife was present during the altercation.

Authorities say Starkweather was transported to Bronson Battle Creek, where he was treated for a stab wound and released. After conducting their initial investigation, police filed the charges against Starkweather and booked him into the Calhoun County Jail.

The incident marks the first  homicide of 2012 in Battle Creek.

The Iron Coffins aren’t generally associated with criminal activity in the area and members say the group has worked to help eradicate the motorcycle gang stereotype through charitable acts and sponsorships.

“We originated out of (Toledo) Ohio, and we branched out to have chapters all over the place,” said the President of the Washtenaw County Iron Coffins chapter. “Out here, we like to do a lot for kids – years ago, we used to do a toy run out to Mott Children’s Hospital. This year, we’re going to adopt families for Christmas, and stuff like that.”

The club closed down five years ago when dwindling membership and high rent on the club’s Michigan Avenue clubhouse forced them to disband, but the motorcycle recently reformed and found new digs in Ypsilanti.

According to their website, The Iron Coffins MotorCycle Club was formed in 1966 in the north end of Toledo, as the Chosen Few. They then moved to Point Place and changed the group’s name to theIron Coffins M/C.  The design of the club’s center patch was created by bike and car customizer “Big Daddy” Roth.

Related posts:

1. Police Officer and Alleged Bike Gang Member Resigns Over Dustup With the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in Ohio
2. No Way to Treat a Brother – Forbidden MC Member Convicted Of Killing Club President
3. This Means War – Hell’s Angels vs Vagos Shootout in Nevada May Spark Biker Gang Battle

Comar , now 62, has been riding motorcycles almost 50 years, and his last ventures were nothing short of amazing for their audacity and for their concern for his fellow man.

You see, Comar rides no-hands.

He’s been practicing the “no-hands” technique for going on 20 years and he steers the bike with his legs and by leaning to aim the bike.

So why does he do it?

He does it for dad. His father, Robert Comar, was a car buff who, due to his struggle with Parkinsons Disease later in life, could no longer hold wrenches steady to work on his beloved cars. The elder Comar passed on in 2008, and it was that event which led Comar the younger to take on his series of stunts to raise funds to fight the debilitating disease.

Comar made a 500-mile-plus “Bridge to the Border Ride” to begin his quest, and then took on a nonstop ride from the Mackinac Bridge to Covington, Ky. The first ride raised nearly $4,000 for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research last October, and the ride he made earlier this year covered 525 miles, proceeds of which also went to the foundation actor Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson’s disease, started to develop better treatments for Parkinson’s patients and to find a cure for Parkinson’s.

“My father died from Parkinson’s disease and I wanted to do something personal to further the foundation’s work,” Comar said of his rides.

Though the rides are over for now, you can still help the cause by making your donation at the fundraising page Comar set up at www.teamfox.org. Just click on the “Support a Member” button and type in “Phil Comar.”

You can also check out all the details of his epic journey on Facebook at No Hand Man.

According to Comar, current treatments for Parkinson’s temporarily mask symptoms of the disease, but the negative effects continue to progress.

There is currently no “cure” for Parkinson’s, and some 5 million people worldwide are living with the chronic degenerative neurological disorder. Symptoms typically progress from mild tremors to complete physical incapacitation.

“Even if it’s just the cost of a pack of cigarettes, or a beer or a gallon of milk, if 100 people donate $3, that’s $300 and a good start,” Comar said. “We’re not looking for somebody to stick their whole paycheck in.”

Comar cruising for second world motorcycle record: foxtoledo.com

Whether you ride a sport bike or an American cruiser, your insurance needs can get complicated.

We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance, whatever you ride…

Tips for buying your motorcycle insurance, coverage you need:

• Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
• Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
• Towing / Pickup
• Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.

Related posts:

1. What Kind of Nutsack Rides A Motorcycle In the Winter
2. Would You Buy A New Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight
3. Twin Jet Engine Board Tracker Harley – Bike Find of the Day

Made in America.

Hard times have led the management of The Motor Company to send out layoff notices to some Milwaukee-area Harley-Davidson employees. Those affected by the announcement will keep their jobs until April 2012, but the layoffs are part of the broad restructuring the Motor Co. announced in 2010.

It’s sad news and the layoffs will ultimately result in a 26 percent reduction in Harley’s Milwaukee-area labor force as the layoffs are completed.

Some 250 workers will lose their full time jobs, and the company plans to and hire 150 to 250 temporary employees to handle seasonal production needs.

What will the move save the company? H-D said they expect to save $50 million annually beginning in 2013 due to contract changes with Wisconsin workers. The workers set for “downsizing” are represented by the United Steelworkers and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers.

What will the move actually cost The Motor Company?

It’s anyone’s guess, but the move seems to be yet another step down the slippery slope to producing The American Motorcycle somewhere other than America.

Buying Your First Bike? The Guide to Motorcycle Insurance

Whether you ride a sport bike or an American cruiser, your insurance needs can get complicated.
We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance, whatever you ride…

Tips for buying your motorcycle insurance, coverage you need:

• Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
• Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
• Towing / Pickup
• Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.

Related posts:

1. Bad Economy Forces Halt to Harley-Davidson Office Development Plans Near Museum
2. Would You Buy A New Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight
3. Harley-Davidson Back In the Game, Sales Up 5 Percent in Q1

This series of traveling shows features a gear and accessory marketplace, hands-on tutorials, demo rides, and custom bike displays.

And the best part of the whole deal? The Progressive’s 2011 International Motorcycle Shows feature new bikes and personalities from the world of motorcycling sure to pique your interest.

The show travels to:

• Novi, MI (January 6-8, 2012)
• Washington, DC (January 13-15, 2012)
• New York, NY (January 20-22, 2012)
• Cleveland, OH (January 27-29, 2012)
• Minneapolis, MN (February 3-5, 2012)
• Chicago, IL (February 10-12, 2012)
• Charlotte, NC (February 24-26, 2012)
• Daytona Beach, FL (March 14-17, 2012)

Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show

If a great bike show isn’t enough to get you out in the snow, then how about a traveling buildoff which features the world’s leading builders of customized bikes – and offers the largest prize purse of any builder competition on earth -  the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show.

If you make the scene, you’ll get access to the foremost custom bike building competition on the planet where you can see some incredible designs, precise engineering and painstakingly wrought paint-jobs. You’ll have the chance to meet the artists, maybe get an autographs or a picture (if that’s how you roll), and then take part in the great American biker democracy by voting for your favorite machine.

MotorcycleUSA.com is the official sponsor of the “People’s Choice” voting center in this year’s Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show, and they’re giving away – yup, giving away -  a customized 2011 Honda Fury to the lucky person at the end of the 2011-2012 Progressive International Motorcycle Show season. If you check out the Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show and vote for the “People’s Choice” award, you’re automatically entered to win the MotorcycleUSA Honda Fury 

The official rules for the MotorcycleUSA.com Honda Fury Giveaway are right HERE…

If you have the skills and the sack for it, you can compete with the best custom motorcycle builders in the world simply by entering your bike into one of four competition classes – Freestyle, Hot Bike Modified Harley, Super Streetbike Performance Custom or Retro Mod.

Do it here now by submitting your form:

Step 1) Click HERE to Enter

Step 2) Click HERE to Pay Your Entry Fee

Official Rules Page – Click Here

All Competition Details – Click Here

Related posts:

1. Ultimate Builder Custom Bike Show Heads North to Minneapolis
2. The Teutels Vs Jesse James – Bike Builder Cultures Clash
3. Celebrity Chopper Builder Shows Have Officially Jumped the Shark

These are obviously motorcycle guys of the highest order, and their exploits riding Harley-Davidson, Excelsior Super X and  a Cleveland around a bicycle velodrome in Darmstadt, near Frankfurt, Germany are really, really nice.

But don’t think they’re the last of the breed.

These guys near Detroit, Michigan are keeping the tradition alive as well at a former velodrome, and I plan to head over there this summer for a run around the track and to make some videos of their races.

Insuring your collectible or vintage motorcycle

As for insurance for your collectible motorcycle? You should be able to get Agreed Value coverage on a classic 1959 BSA Gold Star Catalina valued at $15,000 for somewhere around $25 a month, and that gives you the whole shooting match of coverage.

You can spend a lot less, but if you plan to ride the bikes in your collection, the above pricing is a reasonable approximation of what you can expect to pay.

Related posts:

1. When Board Track Racers Were the Kings of Hollywood – Motorcycle Racing Video
2. Twin Jet Engine Board Tracker Harley – Bike Find of the Day
3. The Most Expensive Motorcycle In History – A 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer

It was always madness. The idea that a man on a motorcycle could bring to heel a man in a car was entirely dependent on the acceptance of the very idea of the rule of law, and the very idea of the rule of law has always been a tenuous conception at best.

Naperville, Illnois’ four-rider motorcycle division will be scrapped if some council members have their way, and their action likely signals the end of an era.

Napierville City Councilman Grant Wehrli said the motorcycles are no longer neede for a variety of reasons, principal among them the nearly $2,000 it costs to uniform each officer and train them at a motorcycle-policing class taught by Northwestern University. The reasons are pretty obvious. Workers’ compensation claims, the costs of maintaining and equipping a bikes the department uses only six to eight months a year and politico speak which generally sounds like blah, blah, blah…

“It seems that we have five officers trained on the motorcycle and four of them have been hurt while on the motorcycle. They seem to be of limited use seasonably, and they are a cost-negative influence on our budget because of the workman’s comp claims.” the estimable Mr. Wehrli said.

Napierville Mayor George Pradel, a former Naperville police officer, said he never rode a motorcycle as part of his policing duties – but he wanted to – and he added that bikes are not only an effective police tool,  but  attract positive attention to the force.

“I absolutely believe motorcycles have a place on the Naperville Police Department. When I was on the traffic division, I wanted us to have them so bad. Not only can they be useful for catching speeders but they can get into so many places squads cant, like rushing to an accident on a packed Route 59 in the summer,” he said.

Councilman Robert Fieseler said Wehrli is dead wrong, but Wehrli had his retort as well.

“It’s gotcha enforcement,” Wehrli said. “I’m all for enforcing the laws, but when we’re hiding behind trees it gives the perception that we’re a ‘gotcha’ department.”

Custom Motorcycle Insurance

Custom motorcycles require the correct insurance coverage package to protect what is, after all, a significant investment on your part .

We’re here to help you find the right motorcycle insurance for your custom bike…

Tips for buying motorcycle insurance for your custom:

• Collision to pay for damage caused to your vehicle in an accident with another vehicle or any stationary object.
• Comprehensive to cover such things as fire, hail, wind, vandalism, hitting an animal, etc.
• Towing / Pickup
• Medical payment or personal injury protection to cover the medical bills resulting from an accident.
• Uninsured or underinsured motorist to protect us when the other driver is at-fault and does not have coverage or assets out of which your bills can be paid.
• Additional coverage to replace or repair accessories specific to your bike.

Related posts:

1. The S&S Bailout Keeps A Half Century of Motorcycle Manufacturing Tradition Alive
2. Hoosier State To Host American Iron Event
3. On the Ragged Edge – Jody Perewitz First Woman to Break 200 MPH Speed Barrier On an American V Twin