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BRAND NEW LE PERA SITE–Check it out. Enter your model, and the site will show you all the seats available for your bike.
TIPPER GORE– At a press conference today, Tipper Gore announced that she’s going back on the campaign trail with her husband, former Vice President Al Gore. “To prepare myself,” she said, “I have shaved off all of my pubic hair. From now until the election, I shall sit on the stage with the former Vice President and may occasionally flash the audience. This will send a very strong message to America.” ?
“What is that message?” asked astonished reportersat this rather startling announcement.
To which Tipper replied: “Read my lips……………no more Bush.”
–from Chris T.
WHITEHORSE PRESS WINTER WEAR–A staple of the long-distance riding community, we’ve found the Widder’Lectric Vesthttp://www.whitehorsepress.com/email.asp?cn=50245&en=en0210&id=swide canextend your riding season indefinitely by keeping you warm even in thecoldest temperatures.
For those on a tighter budget, the new Wind-ProPolartec Vesthttp://www.whitehorsepress.com/email.asp?cn=50245&en=en0210&id=wpro is fourtimes more wind resistant than conventional fleece and provides warmthwithout bulk. Both vests are lightweight alternatives to the “layering”method of staying warm.
You’ll also want to trade in your T-shirts for something with sleeves. Ournew Classic Denim Shirtshttp://www.whitehorsepress.com/email.asp?cn=50245&en=en0210&id=sdenim willfit the bill. These stylish shirts are available sporting four classicmotorcycle logos and are a nice alternative to the standard tees we like towear, and will make a great gift for the motorcyclist on your holidayshopping list.
Stay warm and safe!
LAS VEGAS DRAGS THIS WEEKEND–Hi Bandit:Well, the laptop seems to be working right – amazing the difference!
We’re packing up the van and want to be out of here five minutes ago, so hopefully we can make it to the Las Vegas track by Thursday night or Friday morning.?
I hope to see you there, gotta run. Taking all this computer stuff with me again just to see if it can really work well out on the road. Maybe I can get something done on the way home. I’ve still got 21 rolls of fresh?film, but I hope this is the last race for that.
Mailman still isn’t decided about racing next year, so I’m on a fence.
–Helen, Bikernet Drag Race Reporter
HARLEY-DAVIDSON, INC. REPORTS RECORD THIRD QUARTER– ?????? Milwaukee, Wis., October 15, 2002 — Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HDI) today announced record revenue and earnings for its third quarter ended September 29, 2002. The Company’s third quarter revenue was $1.14 billion, an increase of 31.8 percent over the third quarter last year. Diluted earnings per share were 54 cents, a 50 percent increase compared with last year. ?????
? ?As we began our year-long 100th Anniversary Celebration, we achieved our biggest quarter ever, setting new records in revenue and earnings,? said Jeffrey L. Bleustein, chairman and chief executive officer of Harley-Davidson, Inc. ?The commemorative products for our 100th Anniversary Celebration were a major driver for our exceptional third quarter performance and are a great springboard for growing demand for the future.? ?????
? ?Our global dealer network sold nearly 18 percent more new motorcycles over the past nine months. This, together with better than expected accessories and MotorClothes sales in a difficult economy, gives us confidence in the robust demand for our products,? said Bleustein. ?In response, we are increasing our 2002 production target for Harley-Davidson? motorcycles from 262,000 to 263,000, and for 2003 our target is being set at 289,000, a ten percent increase over 2002.?
Motorcycles and Related Products Segment – Third Quarter Results ?????? Third quarter revenue from Harley-Davidson motorcycles was $832.7 million, an increase of 28.4 percent over the third quarter last year. Shipments totaled 67,474 units, up 10,863 units or 19.2 percent over the same period last year.
Revenue from Parts and Accessories (P&A), which consists of Genuine Motor Parts and Genuine Motor Accessories, totaled $199.3 million, a 32.3 percent increase from the year-ago quarter. Third quarter revenue from General Merchandise, which consists of MotorClothes apparel and collectibles, totaled $83.1 million, an 88.5 percent increase over the same period last year.
The Company?s 100th Anniversary commemorative products drove the performance of both product lines. Revenue from 100th Anniversary P&A products was $21 million and revenue from General Merchandise associated with the 100th Anniversary was $25 million. ?We expected P&A revenues during this anniversary year to be strong, and General Merchandise revenues to be even stronger,? said Bleustein, ?but these third quarter results have exceeded even our expectations.? For the longer term, the Company expects the growth rate for P&A revenues to be slightly higher than Harley-Davidson?s motorcycle unit growth rate and the General Merchandise growth rate is expected to be lower than the motorcycle unit growth rate.
Third quarter gross margin was 34.9 percent of revenue, up from 34.5 percent of revenue for the same period last year. Gross margin improved primarily due to Parts & Accessories? margin contribution, a higher percentage of U.S. motorcycle shipments and worldwide price increases on the 2003 model year motorcycles. ?????? Third quarter operating margin for the Motorcycles and Related Products Segment was 19.6 percent of revenue, an improvement on last year?s third quarter margin of 18.0 percent. The increase in gross margin was the primary contributor to the increase in operating margin.
The Company expects HDFS? full year 2002 operating income to be approximately 55-60 percent higher than in 2001. The Company expects HDFS? full year 2003 operating income to be approximately 20 percent higher than 2002 expectations.? Over the longer term, the Company expects the HDFS growth rate to be slightly higher than the Company?s motorcycle unit growth rate.
STOLEN MOTORCYCLE REPORT FROM 1928–In 1928, the AMA published a list of stolen motorcycles to alert dealers around the country. We’ve been kicking around the idea of creating a department dedicated to posting information about stolen bikes. Hell, we thought it was our original idea. Note the line at the bottom of the letter.
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