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Oil drippings: News and opinion…
– This comes as no surprise: Out of Harley-Davidson’s 694 dealerships in the U.S. only a dozen are operated by minorities. The 
company wants that to change, though, as a dealer network and customer base of aging white men doesn’t have much long-term potential.
“Automotive News” quotes Harley-Davidson’s manager of dealer development, John Nowicki, as saying, “We want to become culturally diverse in our dealer network” and reports that he’s attended the annual National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers conference for the past three years.
Two existing minority-owned Harley-Davidson dealerships belong to Tom Moorehead, and “Automotive News” quotes him as saying “they are going to need more people who look like us to sell their brand.”
The full story is here.
– A nice haul for Harley-Davidson senior vice president Mark Hans Richer, who on Monday sold 10,000 shares of company stock valued at $593,200. He retained 835 shares valued at the time at $49,532.
– Is Ducati about to reinvigorate its Diavel line with a new version of the power cruiser?
New spy shots suggest that’s the case.
The redesigned Diavel appears to have a new frame, swingarm and LED headliight, a belt drive instead of chain, and fresh exhaust. The foot pegs are more forward, too.
Motorcycle.com has more details here.
– India-based Royal Enfield is bringing U.S. distribution of its motorcycles in-house with the launch of Royal Enfield North America. The regional office will be based in Milwaukee and run by Rod Copes, former head 
of global sales and customer service for Harley-Davidson.
Royal Enfields have been distributed in the U.S. for the past 15 years by an independent company, Classic Motor Works of Fairbault, MN. Copes said the transitioning of distribution should be completed by year’s end.
Royal Enfield’s current product line-up in North America includes the Bullet 500cc, Classic 500cc and the Continental GT 535cc cafe racer (pictured), which range in price from $4,995 to $5,995.
