National News

STURGIS, SD – In an 8-1 decision on Monday night, Sturgis City Council voted that the COVID-19 pandemic be damned – the 80th annual Sturgis Motocycle Rally will be held Aug. 7-16. It will likely be a much more subdued, safety-first rally with fewer events. “There’ll be several changes for …

FOSTER CITY, CA – Drivers who text are a huge concern for motorcyclists and a recently-released survey of 1,000 motorists by the website Insurance.com reports that 87 percent of them think distracted driving is worse now than it was two years ago. And the top reason for distracted driving? Texting. …

It’s time again for TWIR – The Week in Review … for the week of June 7-13.  The big story last week – well, perhaps erroneous non-story as it turned out – centered on Indian’s supposed plans for an electric version of its popular FTR 1200 model. The website Motorcycle.com …

SACRAMENTO – The parent company of RevZilla, Cycle Gear and J&P Cycles has agreed to pay nearly $2 million to settle a dispute with the California Air Resources Board and “resolve alleged violations related to the sale of non-exempted add-on or modified motorcycle parts in California.” The settlement between Comoto …

SCOTTS VALLEY, CA – A day after Harley-Davidson released a statement that condemned racism in the United States, electric maker Zero Motorcycles this morning issued a similar statement of its own on social media. “At Zero Motorcycles, we stand for inclusion and support the right to protest against systemic racism …

HINCKLEY – A significant drop in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic is forcing British motorcycle maker Triumph to lay off 240 at its U.K. plant and a total of 400 worldwide. The company employs 2,500 people around the world, with 1,044 in the U.K. Employees were told of the …

MILWAUKEE – With violent protests over the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis taking place in U.S. cities coast to coast in recent days, motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson this evening issued a statement on social media condemning racism and bigotry in American society. “Racism, hatred or intolerance …

It’s time for TWIR – The Week in Review, news items and other tidbits that somehow don’t rate or receive a full post (or fall through the cracks) but are nonetheless worth passing on. Here’s some of what happened between March 17 and 23: Road Fatalities Rise During Pandemic The …

SANTA MONICA, CA – A switch from a multi-city tour in 2020-2021 to an online/virtual event may be in the making for the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows. That possibility is suggested in a new online survey being conducted by the company that stages the tour. While many motorcycle events in …

RIDE-CT & RIDE-New England readers are split on whether BMW’s new R 18 heavy cruiser model (pictured above) will be a hit or a miss. While 35 percent of voters view the massive R 18 as a “retro work of art,” a total of 27 percent think it’s a “ghastly …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson has turned to a native of Germany to revive the iconic American brand. Less than three months after being named acting president and CEO of Harley-Davidson following Matt Levatich’s departure, Jochen Zeitz has now been awarded those posts, effective immediately. The 57-year-old executive will also continue as …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson’s sales nosedived in the first quarter of 2020 due to COVID-19, dropping 15.5 percent in the United States and 17.7 percent worldwide when compared to the first quarter of 2019. The company’s U.S. market share in the heavy cruiser market dropped 2.2 percentage points to 48.9 percent. …

CHENNAI, INDIA – The Norton motorcycle brand has been saved from the dust bin. TVS Motor Company announced today that it has spent £16 million in cash, signed an asset purchase agreement, and acquired the Norton name and other assets of the bankrupt British motorcycle manufacturer. “This is a momentous …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson today announced extensive salary cuts for executives and a hiring freeze as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in an effort to lower costs. According to a press release, acting president and CEO Jochen Zeitz and the company’s board of directors will forego salary/cash compensation, while …

A sizable 48 percent of RIDE-CT & RIDE-New England readers who voted in the latest online poll say the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic will likely prompt them to ride more than usual during to the 2020 riding season. An additional 21 percent reported that they will likely ride the same amount …