Oil Drippings: Harley-Davidson, Event Dates

Harley-Davidson announced this week that it is going in a different direction in Canada, eliminating the middle man.

Since 1973, Deeley Harley-Davidson Canada has been the exclusive distributor of Harley-Davidson products in the country. However, as early as the third quarter of 2015, Harley-Davidson plans to provide its products directly to dealers. Harley-Davidson says, “Canada remains among the only markets operating through a third-party distributor agreement.”

Meanwhile, Harley will continue to get feedback on its Project Livewire electric motorcycle in 2015 by taking the Project Livewire Experience to Asia, Europe and Canada. Consumers will be able to ride the model and provide feedback.

Last year,  some 6,800 riders in the U.S. took demo rides and more than 15,000 customers offered comments during a 30-stop tour. Beginning in April, more U.S. cities will be visited, with Harley promising a 13-stop tour in the U.S. and Canada.

Harley-Davidson still hasn’t said whether it will put Project Livewire into production.

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The dates are set for this year’s Catskill Mountain Thunder motorcycle festival at the Blackthorne Resort in East Durham, NY as well as Brit Jam in East Haddam, CT.

Catskill Mountain Thunder will be held Sept. 16-20. No word yet on musical acts that will perform.

Brit Jam is set for Sunday, Aug. 16 at the Haddam Neck Fairgrounds.

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Bombardier Recreational Products is recalling all 2013 model-year Can-Am Spyder RT trikes because “prolonged idling or slow speed riding in warmer temperatures may result in very high temperatures in the engine compartment.” The consequence could be “skin burns or a vehicle fire.”

Owners are being notified. The recall notice is posted here.