National News

MATTIGHOFEN, AUSTRIA – Husqvarna today confirmed that it will upsize its street line of motorcycles and enter the adventure touring market with the Norden 901 model. A concept version of the Norden 901 was displayed at the EICMA show in Milan, Italy in early November, making today’s announcement no surprise. …

MV Agusta builds pieces of art as much as its builds high-power, high-priced motorcycles. Consequently, it’s no surprise that a video released last week for its Brutale 1000 Serie Oro model would lean more toward catching the eye than selling the product. Racer Davide Stirpe is shown piloting the model …

Over the decades, there have been numerous songs about either motorcycles or riding motorcycles. There have been upbeat songs like “Little Honda,” the 1964 hit by The Hondells that was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love of The Beach Boys. There have been raucous songs like “Born to Be …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson has a nasty habit of releasing new model info in dribs and drabs, and that’s the case again with its two upcoming non-traditional models – a streetfighter and an adventure tourer. The company used the ongoing EICMA show in Milan, Italy this week to announce that its …

MINNEAPOLIS – Indian Motorcycle today introduced a new Challenger line of bagger models for 2020. The new muscle-bound line joins the Scout, FTR 1200, Chief, Chieftain, Springfield and Roadmaster models. In addition to the basic Challenger model, starting at $21,999, there will also be a pricier Challenger Dark Horse and …

WASHINGTON – Motorcycle deaths in the United States declined in 2018, dropping 4.7 percent from 2017, according to data released this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A total of 4,985 motorcycle fatalities were reported in 2018, compared to 5,229 in 2017. However, motorcycle deaths rose slightly in …

Kawasaki this morning announced two new models for 2020 – the retro W800 and the naked Z H2. The W800 is a throwback to the 1960s and joins the existing W800 CAFE. It’s powered by an air-cooled, 773cc vertical twin engine and features an upright riding position and pea-shooter exhausts. …

MILWAUKEE – Sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles continued to decline in the third quarter of 2019, dropping 3.6 percent in the United States and 1.2 percent worldwide, as reported in a company earnings statement issued Monday. Harley-Davidson sold 34,903 motorcycles in the U.S. in the months of June, July and August, …

MINNEAPOLIS – Indian Motorcycle today released details on a new 108 cubic inch/1,769cc V-twin engine that will power the new 2020 Challenger model. The liquid-cooled PowerPlus engine, named after the Indian model that the original company built between 1916 and 1924, will deliver 122 horsepower and 128 foot-pounds of torque. …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson has resumed production of its new LiveWire electric motorcycle model, less than week after shutting down the assembly line for a “non-standard condition” involving the charging system. The company announced Friday that a problem involving one motorcycle caused the assembly stoppage, but that the manufacturing and delivery …

MILWAUKEE – Production of Harley-Davidson new’s electric LiveWire model has been short-circuited. A “non-standard condition” discovered as the first bikes were being shipped to dealers has caused a temporary shutdown of the assembly line.  After noting a glitch in the final quality checks, the company determined that additional testing and …

MILWAUKEE –  How much longer will Harley-Davidson dealers remain patient and quiet when faced with the reality of the company’s continually collapsing sales? Maybe they have no choice. What are their options? Sell out? Close up shop? If I were a dealer, I’d be starting to get very itchy; unless …

It’s the Week in Review for Aug. 4 through 10 – news items and other motorcycle-related info: MA Traffic At Tipping Point Massachusetts traffic is a mess. It can only take a fender bender or a bit of bad weather to disrupt traffic flow in Massachusetts, causing commute times to …

It’s the Week in Review for July 28 through Aug. 3 – news items and other motorcycle-related info: Hit-And-Run Driver Strikes Riders on I-95 In MA Sharon, MA – Two motorcyclists have been released from the hospital after being hit by a car on I-95 around 10:30 p.m. Thursday. State …

MILWAUKEE – Harley-Davidson continues to struggle as sales sagged again in the second quarter of the year. The company this morning reported a sales dropped 8.0 percent in Q2 compared to a year ago. A total of 42,762 motorcycles were sold, compared to 46,490 in the second quarter of 2018. …