Harley-Davidson is more than just an iconic American brand. It is also a surprisingly good reflection of the forces shaping the US economy as a whole. The motorcycle company reported its fourth-quarter earnings last week, and the details show a company that is as typically American as the roaring sound of a Hog on the highway.

Here are the five ways the company's financial results explain the forces shaping the US economy.

Coming back – but not all the way: Harley-Davidson shipped 247,625 motorcycles in 2012, up 6.2 per cent from 2011 (that's an extra 14,508 motorcycles out the door). The company forecasts a similar gain in 2013.

That is up handily from the recent past: the company shipped only 223,023 motorcycles in 2009, as the steep global downturn meant consumers were in no shape to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a motorcycle. But while the gains since then have been decent, it's worth remembering that Harley – and the US economy as a whole – is nowhere near its potential.

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In 2006, the company shipped a whopping 349,196 motorcycles. In other words, it would take much stronger growth for Harley-Davidson's production to return to the track it was on before the recession. The same is true of the US economy as a whole: economic output in 2012 was close to $1 trillion below the level the Congressional Budget Office estimates as the economy's potential. The missing motorcycles are part of that ''output gap''.

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BDL’s New GMA 500 Series Calipers provide Bagger and Softail riders with all the benefits of cutting edge technology, the finest materials, unsurpassed American craftsmanship and superior performance. Designed specifically for 2008-2012 H-D Touring and 2000-2011 Softail machines, these high performance billet calipers are CNC machined and assembled at the BDL factory. Attention to detail and precise fit are what you would expect from BDL/GMA as is each caliper’s solid stopping power and reliability. Sleek lines and a flawless finish on both the black or chrome calipers are once again a trademark of BDL and make a visually stunning upgrade. Available in either chrome or black, for single and dual disc models, the new calipers are supplied with mounting hardware and retail starting from $400 00. For detailed information visit BDL on line atwww.beltdrives.com or call direct to 714-693-1313

Motor trikes have been around since the dawn of motoring, with many starting out as utility vehicles or prototypes of cars. But trikes haven’t died out or become mere relics of motoring history – companies all over the world still produce them today, and many will convert a motorcycle into a trike. Trikes are not only huge fun, but can also be a lifestyle choice.READ FULL STORY

Affable Scottish comedian/actor Billy Connolly (Journey to the Edge of the World, Brave) takes the ultimate road trip as he travels the world's most famous highway, Route 66. In this stylish mini-series, Connolly adopts a kind of "Easy Rider" approach to the trek as he makes the iconic 2,488 mile journey from Chicago to Santa Monica. With his unrivaled ability to tell a great story, he brings to life both the big and small moments of American history, the world changing events and the comic asides.READ FULL STORY

High mileage tire to complement Metzeler’s best-selling ME880 Marathon 

Rome, Georgia, February 4, 2013 – For 150 years Metzeler has provided the best in motorcycle tires for riders around the world. The brand’s emphasis on quality and performance has been epitomized in the Metzeler ME880 Marathon and its position as an industry leader fully committed to the V-Twin segment, including customs, vintage and touring. In the face of an evolving consumer and marketplace, Metzeler announces the ME888 MarathonUltra, also known as the “Triple 8.” A high-mileage tire with increased wet and dry performance, the Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra guarantees a Metzeler quality ride for the life of the tire.

“As opposed to rushing the market with a tire that called for compromise, we took the time to engineer a high mileage tire while maintaining all of the characteristics that make a Metzeler tire,” pointed out Chris Wall, Metzeler Director of Marketing and Key Accounts. “We fine-tuned all the features that made the ME880 such a success and then focused on a significant mileage improvement.”

Product characteristics of the Triple 8 include newly processed compounds, updated structure and an innovative tread pattern design. All of this resulting in increased mileage while maintaining the ME880’s trademark philosophy of stability, handling, traction and safety in wet conditions.

With an emphasis on mileage improvement through reduced structural fatigue and better wear uniformity, the Triple 8 employs a ply line with a more distributed and wider geometry than conventional tires. This allows for any added stress to be dissipated towards the sidewall without causing additional fatigue on the contact patch. Additionally, an improved tread pattern design with compound bridges aims to increase stiffness underfoot, which in turn prevents stress transmission from the tread to the belts and carcass plies.  The tread also features a variable width tread groove which maximizes the channeling of water in extreme weather conditions.

The Triple 8’s contact patch is 15 percent wider than the ME880, making the Triple 8 better suited to distribute force necessary to transfer engine torque on the ground. This results in reduced overheating of the tire’s surface often experienced with slippage under hard acceleration.

Metzeler’s new ME888 Marathon Ultra is the ideal tire for the V-Twin motorcyclist seeking high mileage without compromising on performance, while riding in either wet or dry conditions. The ME888 will be available beginning Q1 2013 to fit today’s popular Harley-Davidson motorcycles, including the new FL Touring, Softail and Sportster models.

We interviewed Simon Scott, the guy who bought up the Big Bear Choppers intellectual properties and is making a run at the chopper industry again, this time world wide. 

His interview addresses the BBC debt, the products and the future of Choppers.

It's cool!

It almost all good news from China, Cincinnati, Biker's Choice, the DoJo, Laughlin, Vegas, Saddlemen, Big Bear Choppers, and back to Cincy for more reports. Custom motorcycles and baggers are alive and well. Innovation never stops. Check the new Knucklehead from S&S. Is that a beautiful piece or what. Makes me want to build a motorcycle just looking at it.

Check the Sunday News.

The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Motorcycle Ohio Rider Education Program registration begins Tuesday, Feb. 19. Those wanting to learn how to ride a motorcycle or refresh their motorcycle safety skills may register at www.motorcycle.ohio.gov for one of the courses scheduled throughout the state from April through October.

Nearly 200,000 motorcycle riders have been trained since the program’s inception in 1988. For the first time in more than a decade, the course fee has been raised to $50. More information about Motorcycle Ohio and the courses, including statewide locations and updated training requirements, are available online at the address listed above.

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