Harley-Davidson announced it would pull out of India not that long ago as part of its major restructuring plan. This clearly was a major blow to the 33 Harley dealerships in the country.
According to the Times of India, the owners of these 33 Harley-Davidson dealerships are now looking at their legal options and may sue The Motor Company.
It’s unclear exactly what will happen with this. It’s further confused by the fact that Hero MotoCorp recently signed a deal with Harley to do distribution and some manufacturing for the brand. According to the Times of India, neither Harley nor Hero wanted to discuss the predicament on the record.
The publication did say that the dealers are. “not happy with the treatment that they have received.” Right now these dealers are going over their legal options to see what can be done.
When Harley first announced it was pulling out of India, I wondered what kind of advanced notice it had provided to its dealer network there. That could be a massive blow, and I’d like to hope that Harley didn’t just spring it on the dealers. However, few things have gone smoothly for HD recently, so I wonder if that’s precisely what’s happened. It will be interesting to see where this story goes in the future.
Harley-Davidson Australia has now recalled its LiveWire electric motorcycle for switching off while running, more than a fortnight after it was recalled in the USA.
Company spokesman Keith Waddell says there have been “no instances in Australia” of the fault occurring.
The issue affects 41 LiveWire motorcycles sold in Australia since it was launched a couple of months ago. The Vehicle Identification Numbers of all bikes affected are listed at the end of this article.
The official recall notice, issued through the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission warns that the bike may switch off while running, causing a crash.
“The software in the On-Board Charging (OBC) System on affected motorcycles may initiate a shutdown of the electric vehicle powertrain, without providing reasonable indication to the rider that a shutdown sequence has been initiated,” the notice says.
In some cases, the vehicle may not be able to be restarted or, if restarted, may shortly thereafter shut down again. In some cases, indicator lamps may be illuminated on the instrumentation prior to loss of propulsion.
“These indicator lamps include: The Traction Control (TC) lamp, the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) lamp, and the Failure Indicator Lamp (FIL).
“Unexpected loss of propulsion of the vehicle while in motion without the ability to restart or remain restarted may increase the risk of a crash, increasing the risk of serious injury or death of the rider(s) or other road users.”
Owners are urged to contact their Harley-Davidson dealer “immediately to arrange a service”.
“The dealer will install new updated On-Board Charging (OBC) System software to rectify the issue, at no cost to the consumer,” the notice says.
The recall is Harley’s first in Australia for 2020.
Even though manufacturers and importers usually contact owners when a recall is issued, the bike may have been sold privately to a rider unknown to the company.
Therefore, Motorbike Writer publishes all motorcycle and scooter recalls as a service to all riders.
If you believe there is an endemic problem with your bike that should be recalled, contact the ACCC on 1300 302 502.
To check whether your motorcycle has been recalled, click on these sites:
Despite the new boss of Harley-Davidson saying he will focus on core customers the iconic motorcycle manufacturer has still gone aead with its entry into the lucrative e-bike market.
Their first electric bicycle, the Serial 1, will initially be launched in 2021 in the US and German markets. No pricing details are available yet.
Europe has a strong e-bike market and we expect the handsome e-bike will soon be available in other European countries.
Harley-Davidson Australia marketing guru Keith Waddell would not comment on the e-bike coming to Australia, only to say that HQ had told them “additional countries will be evaluated to support our growth opportunities”.
This year, Harley ventured into the e-bike market with electric balance bikes for kids in the US.
But they aren’t made by Harley. They are made by Californian children’s electric bicycle company StaCyc, which Harley bought last year.
Harley said at the time that the kids’ electric bikes would be joined by pedal-assisted electric bicycles for bigger kids.
However, it was unclear if they would go ahead with that move after new boss Jochen Zeitz announced his “rewire” strategy concentrating on traditional products to appease its core customers.
But now Harley has announced the launch of their first e-bike which takes its name from “Serial Number One,” the nickname for Harley’s oldest motorcycle.
It was designed and produced by Harley’s Product Development Center.
The global eBicycle market was worth more than $US15 billion last year and is projected to grow at an annual rate of more than 6% from 2020 to 2025.
The ever-growing list of 2020 motorcycle recalls continues to expand with another addition to the hit-list; Harley Davison’s 2020 LiveWire is unexpectedly shutting down for some riders mid-ride and in some cases not allowing for the driver to turn the vehicle back on after initial shut-off.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that only 1% of the ~1000 bikes being recalled may be affected by the issue, so there is no reason to panic but it’s still better to be safe than sorry.
The issue apparently comes from the On-Board Charging software that causes the powertrain to turn off. I’m not sure if that issue will really cause *a complete* shut down of the bike with all other features shutting off, but other sources are reporting that ABS, TC, and other assists can indeed cut out as well.
This is not good news for anyone who rides their bikes in the evening or in low light, as there is potential for ABS, traction control, and your headlight to shut off mid-ride which could cause serious injury or even death.
Between the 22nd and 29th of October, 2020 LiveWire owners will be notified by mail regarding the recall and will be urged to take their motorcycles to their local H-D dealership to have the software updated for free.
Where I live, there is currently 10cm of snow on the ground, so if are like me and cannot arrange transportation of your bike to the dealership Harley-Davidson is happy to pick it up and return it back to your house absolutely free of charge.
If you are a 2020 H-D LiveWire owner it would be in your best interest to give the Harley-Davidson customer support line a ring and provide them with your VIN so they can check to see if you perhaps have one of the affected versions of the bike.
Harley-Davidson has announced new Screamin’ Eagle stage kits for select MY18+ Softail and MY17+ Touring models. Several kit options are available for Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-Eight 107, 114 and 117 engines. For more information, check out the press release below.
From Press Release:
The all-new Harley-Davidson® Screamin’ Eagle® products for your ride are here to keep the thrills rolling mile after mile. High-flow exhaust kits, performance cams, ultra-powerful Screamin’ Eagle engines and a comprehensive line of upgrades get you to peak exhilaration quickly and smoothly with the power to handle whatever comes.
SCREAMIN’ EAGLE® MILWAUKEE-EIGHT® ENGINE STAGE IV KIT 114CI TO 131CI FOR SELECT SOFTAIL MODELS
With the largest displacement of any Harley-Davidson® Stage Kit, this 114/117CI to 131CI Stage IV Kit was designed to deliver maximum horsepower – all the way to the redline – available now for select Softail models. Packaged with patent-protected cylinder technology, it allows for the largest Harley-Davidson® bolt-on engine upgrade to any Milwaukee-Eight® motor.
The Stage IV Kit features new CNC-ported heads with 1mm bigger valves than the previous generation, and fully machined combustion chambers. Coupled with the kit’s high-lift SE8-517 cam, high compression pistons and a 64mm throttle body and intake manifold, this combination delivers a thrilling 135 ft-lb of torque and 124 HP rear-wheel output when paired with Screamin’ Eagle® Street Cannon Mufflers. It’s designed to run at high-end RPMs and provide a significant boost of torque from cruising speed. You’ll feel the difference as soon as you twist the throttle.
The Screamin’ Eagle 131 Stage IV Kit is eligible for Custom Coverage under the motorcycle’s factory 24-month vehicle limited warranty when dealer-installed by an authorized H-D Dealer within 60 days of vehicle purchase and is otherwise backed by a 12-month limited warranty.
Performance components include:
Screamin’ Eagle CNC Ported Cylinder Head with CNC machined chamber and 1mm larger valves than previous generation
131 Stage IV Timer cover
SE8-517 High-Lift Cam
Forged 10.7:1 High Compression Pistons
Screamin’ Eagle High Performance Cam Bearing
Screamin’ Eagle High Performance Tappets
Screamin’ Eagle 4.31″ Steel Sleeve Cylinders
Screamin’ Eagle 64mm Throttle Body and Cast Manifold
Screamin’ Eagle High Flow Injectors (5.5 g/sec)
Complete fitment information can be found on H-D.com.
SCREAMIN’ EAGLE® MILWAUKEE-EIGHT® ENGINE STAGE IV KIT – 107CI TO 128CI FOR SELECT SOFTAIL MODELS
This Stage IV Kit was designed to deliver maximum horsepower – all the way to the redline – available now for select Softail models and features new CNC-ported heads with 1mm bigger valves than the previous generation, and fully machined combustion chambers.
Coupled with the kit’s high-lift SE8-517 cam, high compression pistons and a 64mm throttle body and intake manifold, this combination delivers a thrilling 127 ft-lb of torque and 124 HP rear-wheel output when paired with Screamin’ Eagle® Street Cannon Mufflers. It’s designed to run at high-end RPMs and provide a significant boost of torque from cruising speed. You’ll feel the difference as soon as you twist the throttle.
The Screamin’ Eagle 128 Stage IV Kit is eligible for Custom Coverage under the motorcycle’s factory 24-month vehicle limited warranty when dealer-installed by an authorized H-D Dealer within 60 days of vehicle purchase and is otherwise backed by a 12-month limited warranty.
Performance components include:
Screamin’ Eagle CNC Ported Cylinder Head with CNC machined chamber and 1mm larger valves than previous generation
128 Stage IV Timer cover
SE8-517 High-Lift Cam
Forged 10.7:1 High Compression Pistons
Screamin’ Eagle High Performance Cam Bearing
Screamin’ Eagle High Performance Tappets
Screamin’ Eagle 4.31″ Steel Sleeve Cylinders
Screamin’ Eagle 64mm Throttle Body and Cast Manifold
Screamin’ Eagle High Flow Injectors (5.5 g/sec)
Complete fitment information can be found on H-D.com.
Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® Engine Stage III 114CI or 117CI to 122CI Kit and Stage III 107CI to 119CI For MY17+ Touring Models
This Stage III kit has been developed for the rider looking for a solid “seat of the pants” torque increase you can feel every time you roll on the throttle. The bump up in displacement and compression deliver a significant increase in torque and power over stock, all the while restoring the sensation of riding solo when you’re loaded down.
The Stage III 107CI to 119CI upgrade delivers up to 23% more horsepower and 17% more torque and the 114CI to 122CI upgrade increases power by up to 15% and 13% more torque when compared to the Original Equipment engine configurations.
Performance components include:
Screamin’ Eagle 4.155 Big Bore Bolt-On Cylinders
Forged 11.0:1 High-Compression Pistons and Rings
Screamin’ Eagle SE8-447 Torque Cam
Screamin’ Eagle High Capacity Tappets
Screamin’ Eagle High Performance Cam Bearing
Screamin’ Eagle Stage III Timer Cover & Insert
Multi-layer coated Head Gaskets
Cylinder Base and Cam Cover Gaskets
Most necessary gaskets and seals
Screamin’ Eagle® Milwaukee-Eight® Engine Stage III 114CI or 117CI to 122CI Kit is eligible for Custom Coverage under the motorcycle’s factory 24-month vehicle limited warranty when dealer-installed by an authorized H-D Dealer within 60 days of vehicle purchase and is otherwise backed by a 12-month limited warranty.
Stage III and IV Kits comply with noise and emissions standards in all U.S. states other than California on 2017-later Touring Models and select 2018-later Softail Models. Street-compliant statements may not apply to markets outside the United States. The 131CI Stage IV Kit fits ’17-later Touring models equipped with Milwaukee-Eight® 114CI or 117CI engine and ’18-later Softail models equipped with Milwaukee-Eight® 114CI engine. The 128CI Stage IV Kit fits ’17-later Touring models equipped with Milwaukee-Eight® 107CI engine and ’18-later Softail models equipped with Milwaukee-Eight® 107CI engine. Neither kits fit Trike models. ’17-’19 models require separate purchase of High-Capacity Oil Pump P/N 62400248. 17-’18 models require separate purchase of Screamin’ Eagle High-Capacity Clutch Plate Kit P/N 37000258. All models require additional purchase of ECM recalibration with the Screamin’ Eagle Pro Street Tuner for proper installation. See an authorized Harley-Davidson® dealer for details.
In 1987 half of all Harley-Davidson riders were under the age of 35. By the year 2000, that number was closer to 15%. Today though? Oof… The average customer today is 48 years old and the brand no longer even bothers reporting the age demographics of buyers anymore. There has always been a disconnect between Harley-Davidson and the youth of today, and they have recently been scrambling to rebuild that bridge.
The LiveWire was styled to appeal much more to younger customers, but with a $30,000 price tag on a motorcycle that doesn’t even brap it’s no surprise younger people still arent getting onto them. Keep in mind, you can get a Tesla Model 3 for $35,000 (just $5000 more) and it comes with twice the wheels, batteries, features, and safety.
With buzzwords like “revival” and “reimagination” being associated with the brand as of late, it’s no surprise to me that this concept bike I’m about to share with you is called, quite literally, the “Harley-Davidson Revival”.
I appreciate what Harley has been doing as of late but it kind of reminds me of a stepdad sitting down to play games with me even though he has no idea what he’s doing and indirectly makes the experience worse for everyone.
Although this is just an exercise in design, I’m trying to relate it to the current situation of the H-D company as it would fit right in with their recent brand goals.
It’s a difficult predicament, as the more they pander to younger audiences, the less that the die-hard Harley boomers are going to be satisfied.
The bike itself looks beautiful though, very interesting and futuristic; definitely, something that will resonate with the younger crowd in my eyes (hi, yes, I’m younger crowd).
Tanner Van De Veer, a product designer and recent graduate from the University of Cincinnati College of DAAP cooked up this design and featured a business model that includes a subscription-based battery replacement program aimed at negating the need for charging.
Concepts come and go, but it’s a good start to get an idea of the vision of a brand and where they would like to head. I still give Tanner props as the design is very sleek and exotic. That headlight assembly is just beautiful and screams “New Harley-Davidson”.
The biggest concern I’ve heard repeatedly parroted from the anti-electric vehicle mob is “good luck finding somewhere to charge your Telsa on a long road trip, those things are only good for city commuting”. Harley-Davidson is taking the EV technology they released with their new LiveWire Motorcycle across the entire globe on a 100 day, 13,000-mile trek to prove the naysayers wrong, documented on their H-D podcast series available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
In only 30 days, the same engineers that developed the LiveWire were assembled to retrofit the production model LiveWires to sustain the grueling journey ahead. The bikes utilize production-spec LiveWire parts such as the “RESS (Rechargeable Energy Storage System) hardware, chassis, and Harley-Davidson Revelation™ powertrain components” per the official press release. In addition to all of that, the bikes feature prototype wheels, rotors, and tires from their upcoming Pan America adventure touring bike set to release in late 2020, as a 2021 model.
If a 13,000-mile journey doesn’t sell you on the efficiency and reliability of electric motorcycles, I’m not sure what will. Back in June of 2016, Rafael de Mestre did a similar stunt/challenge by taking his 2012 Tesla Model S on a 15,534-mile drive over an 80 day period to prove the same point.
The podcast will include the engineering process as well as the trip itself and any issues the riders may run into along the way. The LiveWire that Ewan McGregor rode in Harley-Davidson’s recent Long Way Up documentary series was far from stock, so it will be great to see the capabilities of the technology with something closer to the motorcycles H-D has available to consumers.
Harley-Davidson is going through some serious restructuring, and the company has had to make plenty of tough decisions. It announced its Rewire strategy, and that entailed some shakeups on a global scale and some reworking of its lineup. As of now, the company will close up shop in India and it will pull the Sportster lineup from Europe.
Actually, about a dozen models will leave European shores due to the fact that Harley won’t upgrade the engines for Euro 5 emissions standards.
The intention behind this move is to save money. Moto Station reached out to Harley-Davidson France. A company representative noted that the Sportsters weren’t selling well enough to warrant the upgrade to Euro 5 standards. In 2021, European riders will see the last of the Harley Sportster.
That’s not to say Harley doesn’t have a replacement on the horizon. There’s always the chance that the company will add another, similar bike in the future to the European market.
As far as India goes, the company will stop all production, sales, and operations there. The move will “boost restructuring expenses this year to about $169 million,” according to Bloomberg.
Again, this might not be forever. Once Harley gets its feet back under it and has things rolling along well, it may re-think about entering the Indian market. It could even do so with its Chinese-made small-displacement bike, the 338R.
Needless to say, Harley is struggling, but it seems to be trying hard to right the ship. Let’s hope it can do what it needs to do.
Anne Turner was able to get one of her bucket-list items checked off recently when her daughter put the word out that Anne wanted to sit on a Harley-Davidson.
Anne is a 83-year-old living in England. She is terminally ill, and when the motorcycling community heard of her wish, they showed up. A group of bikers showed up to grant Anne her wish. Not only that, but she was outfitted with a leather jacket and a helmet and was given a ride on a Harley Fat Bob.
“I’m one of them now,” she told the BBC.
This is a clear indicator that it doesn’t matter what age you are, you can get joy out of motorcycles no matter the stage in your life. for Anne it came at 83 years old.
The BBC did a good video of the experience that you can check out below. It’s a heartwarming story and one that I think we need more of in 2020. Sometimes its the little things in life, like getting to ride your dream bike around the block.
The Harley-Davidson LiveWires that were used in Long Way Upwere a long way from stock LiveWires, so don’t think you can just take your $30,000 electric machine off-road without issues.
According to RideApart, the underpinnings of the motorcycle remained the same, but the bike was heavily reworked to make the trip possible. Ewan McGregor reached out to Harley long before doing the run while the LiveWire was still in prototype form and Harley worked with the production team to make a bike that would do everything that was needed.
“(…) the engineering team combined the dynamically capable on-road performance of the LiveWire model with adjusted geometry and suspension based on the upcoming Pan America adventure touring model to shred dirt roads, single track, and desert trails while maintaining its on-road handling prowess,” Harley’s PR manager Paul James wrote in a statement regarding the company’s involvement in the project.
RideApart actually reached out to Harley-Davidson to see if there was an electric ADV bike in the works. The response the publication got should not surprise you. It was typical of Harley.
The PR person for Harley, Jennifer Hoyer, said she couldn’t comment on future product options. That, however, is not a denial. And she made a point of saying that the parts came from existing prototypes (most likely the Pan America).
Still, the point stands that Harley has done it before for the show, and could probably do it again if there was a serious call for an electric ADV from buyers.
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