Archive for July, 2009
North Of 49
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
RCMP
I’m talking 49th parallel, don’t cha know. Better known as the great white north…. Canada, eh!
I’ll be off line riding for several days and comments will be delayed as I schlep the Harley toward Calgary, you hoser. I’ve socked some away for a brewski and traffic fines [...]
Harley-Davidson Mistake Part Deux
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
I called it – sort of! I questioned Harley-Davidson’s marketing tactics HERE and HERE in rolling out a guaranteed trade-in value program on its Sportster model.
I disagreed because I just didn’t see the value prop or customer pull this program offered in these difficult economic times. Especially [...]
The Power Of Dreams
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
In June, Honda celebrated the 50th anniversary of its arrival in the U.S. I posted an article on the event HERE.
Sadly, this week Honda re-confirmed in the Tokyo Nikkei, its intent to indeed wind down the U.S. motorcycle production due to declining demand. The closure this month ends a [...]
2009 CVO Road Glide – Recall
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
Harley-Davidson announced the recall of 1,759 CVO Road Glides (FLTRSE3) equipped with the Blade rear wheel accessory kits.
The problem is some of the wheels underwent a secondary heat treatment process which may have caused a crack in the wheel and may result in wheel failure. Wheel failure [...]
Harley-Davidson 2010 Line Up
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
H-D 2010 Product Launch
Across six model platforms Harley-Davidson introduced nine new motorcycle models over the weekend as part of the 2010 product line launch. Although rumors circulated about water–cooled touring models none rolled out. H-D claimed this to be the most expansive new-product introduction in the history [...]
Get A Room
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
We’ve all made that poking fun comment… typically said to couples pawing at each other, engaged in heavy-duty lip smack and the lust scene makes you feel uncomfortable (or jealous).
Good news! Best Western and Harley-Davidson have joined together to facilitate the intimate act! The two companies announced [...]
Dressed For Summer Travel
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
Hwy 97 near Shaniko, OR
Like most riders, I’ve tried on every type of jacket I could get my hands on over the years. Deciding what to wear is a combination of the riders personality, fashion, who they ride with and for some it’s also about motorcycle safety.
My [...]
40 Years After The Moon Walk
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
LEM
Anyone who grew up in America in the ‘60s must find the present state of space travel a major disappointment.
It was the year Harley-Davidson merged with AMF, the cool movie was Easy Rider which portrayed hippies who rode choppers and Neil Armstrong walked/bounced on the moon. Forty [...]
Harley-Davidson Cuts Head West
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
The eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains offer motorcycle enthusiasts an interesting blend of motorcycle rides and some of the best scenery in the west.
Unfortunately, Northwestern Nevada is also the location of Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS) who took quick action after the parent company, Harley-Davidson, posted [...]
The Perfect Venue
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
Colorado. Well known for its magnificent scenery of mountains, rivers and plains.
Harley-Davidson management determined that the Rocky Mountain region with 53 peaks above 14K feet was the perfect place to hold the Summer Dealer Meeting in the Gold Rush mining town of – Denver. Later this week [...]
Trust No One
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
A good riding buddy of mine lost his father recently.
Coping is difficult for family and for friends it’s can be challenging to know what to say or not say that might remind the person about something they don’t want to remember. But close friends know how not [...]
Harley-Davidson Bold Idea No. 2
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
It’s economics. You can’t recycle when it costs more to use the existing product than to use the raw material. You can try, but the economics will likely run you out of business.
And speaking of recycle costs, the H-D marketing folks who are never bashful to re-hash [...]
The Bottom
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
Not to buzz kill the summer riding season, but the current recession is the longest we’ve seen in the post-war period.
Inclusive of the current downturn, there have been 11 recessions since WWII. Having officially started in December 2007, this month marks the 19th month of the current [...]
Babies, Bikers and Glam Rock
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
Dee Snider of Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister (“We’re Not Gonna Take It”) is an American heavy metal band known for delivering youth anthems, wearing outrageous clothes, gawdy make-up and having wild hairstyles during their performances. One could debate that glam rock peaked in the mid-80s with MTV, yet [...]
Captain America Turns 40
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
Easy Rider Replica Bike
Not the fictional character who appears in comic books, but I’m talking about the classic motorcycle movie Easy Rider which marks the 40 year anniversary this week.
About two bikers (Fonda and Hopper) who travel the America landscape to experience freedom of the open road [...]
Celebrities, Chrome and Cigars
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
The open road is just three weeks away!
But, I won’t be at the granddaddy of them all — I’ll miss chatting with CJ Halon (Guilty Customs), rubbing elbows with Jeff Cochran (Sucker Punch Sally’s), miss the Legend Ride with Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler and all the [...]
Latte Mom That Likes Motorcycles And Men
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
Carmen
At work early. Coffee, check. Raisin bran muffin, check. Opening Outlook email…waiting…, check. Whoa, what’s this? A half-dozen “business proposals” from London and several people in South Africa who I don’t know are waiting for my “urgent reply” with a bank account number… Important, I am.
According to a recent [...]
Knowledge Is Everything
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
The Motorcyclist Advisory Council (MAC) is once again looking for rider feedback.
They want highway rider input from across the U.S. and your answers to the survey will be used to help state and federal highway administrators better understand and plan for the needs of motorcyclists. The survey [...]
Harley-Davidson Engineering Prowess
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
eROCKIT Electric Motorcycle
Building a better mouse trap.
It’s about engineering. It can be a daunting task, especially after 105 years in the market with the leading heavy cruiser segment share locked up. It seems impossible to surpass. With success like that why would anyone at Harley-Davidson do anything [...]
Forgetting Sarah Palin
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
Schweitzer Summit
I hadn’t been hiking on Schweitzer since 1979. Not much has changed. That’s how it is with the physical world. It outlasts all of us. We’re just a blip in time. Sure we think we’re forever, but despite all the hosannas, even Michael Jackson’s music will [...]
Indian Is Da Bomb
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
Yeah, it’s a little Randy slang from American Idol, but the title reference is about the new Indian Motorcycle called the Chief Bomber.
Two new models were introduced at last month’s dealer meeting and photo’s are starting to surface on the internet. The new models are the Dark [...]
A New Ride Versus Customize
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
Being frugal and customizing your motorcycle seems like a contradiction of terms, right?
Not really. With the economy in a slump, more riders are no longer trading for a newer bike, rather are hanging on to their current ride longer. My last ride kept me tinkering one piece [...]
2009 MDA Hope Ride
Rating 3.00 out of 5
[?]Submitted by Northwest Harley Blog
Mark your calendar. The fourth annual MDA Hope Ride will be held Saturday, August 1st for the Portland, Or area.
The event will start at the I-5 Baldock Southbound rest area (mile post 282) which is just past the Carbonneau/Canby exit and will end at the Chinook Winds Casino [...]
