Flying to the Desert to Rescue an FXRT I was hoping to have most of the weekend to get caught up on the Torpedo. Micah is having a blast with his buddy’s ’29 Indian at the Race of Gentlemen on the other coast. But he’ll be headed back, and I needed to finish my homework assignments. But I encountered one fly in the ointment. READ THE WEEKEND ROUND-UP IN THE CANTINA – CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE

Biker Fest offers to all visitors a unique occasion in Europe: they can try and drive for free the motorbike of their dreams. The Motorcycle Companies that will be officially present at the event are: Honda, Harley-Davidson, Ducati XDiavel and Scrambler, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Moto Guzzi, Indian, BMW Motorrad and Boss Hoss Italy (we are waiting for other confirmations). This year some Motorcycle Companies will offer the possibility to try also some off road models..

THE CUSTOM BIKE SHOW CONSTEST MOST HISTORIC IN EUROPE
At the Bike Show Contest of the Biker Fest takes place the final of the Italian Motorcycle Championship (14 dates) and the only date of the AMD World Championship with rich prizes like accessories for motorbikes, four reimbursement of expenses (1000 euro each one) for winners, and a exhibition area at the Motor Bike Expo in Verona 2019 for the best rising Customizer and much more! Bike show is held in the spectacular Aquasplash Aquatic Park near Demo Ride Area (Stadio G.Teghil). Don’t miss the occasion, register now your motorbike: CLICK HERE

DIRT TRACK & FLAT TRACK
After last year’s huge success, between Stadio Teghil and Luna Park you’ll find an area where it has been prepared a real oval circuit/TT. During the event you can register for a test drive with racing 450 cc motorbikes set up as flat/dirt or take part to drive courses with professional racers (with the possibility to rent motorbike and clothing when you make the registration). On Sunday you can attend at a stage of the Italian Championship of Dirt Track! For info: CLICK HERE

SATURDAY LIGHT FEVER PARADE
We know you don’t miss it at all, but we would remind it in any case! In cooperation with the Moto Club Morena FMI, in the evening of Saturday 11^th of May at 7 P.m. the biggest motorbike parade will start from Luna Park and pass through Lignano and the seafront to allow everyone to know this fantastic holiday resort. Organize your group and be on time! https://motoclubmorena.it/contacts

OFF ROAD FEST
This year there will be a new area and a new circuit even more larger for over 300 off road lovers which get together every year on Saturday and Sunday to excite the spirits of adults and babies with their off-road motorbikes (cross and enduro) and test their abilities during the day. Info and registration: CLICK HERE

SCRAMBLER CHALLENGE
For the 6^th time you can see and join the Scrambler Challenge, a carefree contest dedicated to vintage and custom Scramblers, the grandmothers of the present Enduro! This year there will be a new TT circuit. Register now and come to discover it: CLICK HERE

STEPH STUNT SHOW
Welcome back Stephanie Saayman, directly from Belgium, one of the greatest female stunt-riders out there! Come watch her doing crazy stuff riding Harley-Davidson and Buell motorcycles in her only italian date! FB Steph Stunts. FB Steph Stunts (https://www.facebook.com/stephstunts/)

SUPERMOTO FEST
A whole new area dedicated to Supermotard bikes is taking place this here at Biker Fest International, inside the Market area at Stadio Teghil. This will be the first thing you’ll see entering the event!. CLICK HERE

4TH EAST COAST SWEET PIN-UP CONTEST
After the big success of the last years the Pin Up Contest come again like the most waited of the north-east of Italy. You can see beautiful girls ready to challenge to the sound of lipsticks and pleasantness. This dynamic and funny contest will culminate on Saturday, while on Sunday it will involve the U.S. Car Reunion, to live as best you can that original sound with a Fifties aftertaste that characterize this unique event!: CLICCA QUI

TEAM DABOOT
To speak about Daboot Team is always complicated: images, videos and lives worth than 1000 words in this case. Their show is the summary of the reasons we love drive motorbikes: freedom, risk and adrenaline. Freestyle is like Fight Club, if you live in biker world you must love it, because in this sport there is only one rule: “There’re no rules”. Come to enjoy the performances of the great Vanni Oddera! daboot.it

LIVE ROCK
Faithful to the slogan “Rally-Race-Rock Festival” here you are the 11 bands that act like sound track of the 32nd edition of the Biker Fest with their live rock. Programma musicale

DAVIDE FAVATA STUNT SHOW
Davide Favata is a 30 y.o. Stuntrider who rides sportbikes and mostly known for being a member of Pirate Troop and Swootgang teams. He is famous for precision and technique in his stunts. He is also the only italian doing tricks together with his girlfriend on the bike, in fact they won the 2015 “Best Trick” prize at Evotech Stunt Competition. Don’t miss it! www.davidefavata.com

MOTOTHERAPY
During the last years Motorbike Therapy has been held at the Biker Fest and many TV programs spoke about it. It’s a true occasion to understand and appreciate that our life gives us everyday! Also this year, Friday 11 of May will be dedicated to Motorbike Therapy realized by ASD Vanni FMX and leaded by the famous Vanni Oddera. To attend it from in person is something magic, don’t miss it. vannioddera.it

HOG FRIULI CHAPTER TOUR
At the HOG Point near Nik’s H-D Pordenone Dealer (Stadio Teghil area) visitors will have the chance to join the HOG Official Tour spreading through the Collio hills. In a 3 hour moto tour you are gonna visit some famous wine producers and much more. The tour will come back at Biker Fest to enjoy the evening shows. Info: friulichapter@niks-harley-davidson.com

GLOBE TROTTERS
We renew the invitation to all motorcycle travellers and Travel agencies (specialized in trips for bikers) to take part at “Motorbike without frontier”, the area of the Biker Fest dedicated to great motorbike trips. This area was born to present and make know personal histories, trip experiences, projects, organized trips, books and to give some useful advice to whom is going to start a long motorcycle trip. INFO: www.mauriziodebiasio.it

MOTOTOURS
A long time tradition is guiding our guests to discover the beauties of our region. Visit two UNESCO protected cities like Palmanova and Aquileia with our tours. More over, a ride to the Frecce Tricolori (aerobaticdemonstration team of the Italian Aeronautica Militare) airbase in Rivolto is on the list! Info and registrations at: https://motoclubmorena.it/contacts

Info Biker Fest International – Italian Bike Week
Web: www.bikerfest.it    Mail: press@bikerfest.it
Tel.: +39. 0432.948777   Mob.: +39 366.6310768
Stand: http://www.bikerfest.it/download/ModuloStandIta.pdf
Hotel e Booking: www.biker19.booking.lignanoholiday.com

FB: www.facebook.com/BikerFestInt 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/BikerFestInt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BikerFestInt
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/12977350

by Rajesh Kumar Singh from https://www.reuters.com/

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Harley-Davidson Inc (HOG.N) is betting on electric motorcycles to attract the next generation of younger and more environmentally conscious riders to reverse declining U.S. sales.

But as Harley ships its first “LiveWire” bikes – priced at $29,799 – to dealers, there is little evidence the 116-year-old brand is catching on with new young customers.

The problem lies mostly with this “super-premium” product’s price. The bike costs nearly as much as a Tesla Model 3, and aims for a market that does not really exist: young, “green” and affluent first-time motorcyclists.

The sleek sport bike has been available for preorder in the United States since January. However, the bulk of the orders are coming in from existing and old riders, according to interviews with 40 of the 150 dealerships nationwide that are carrying the bike this year.

The dealers Reuters spoke with account for little over a quarter of LiveWire dealerships and are spread across Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, California, Nevada, New Jersey and New York.

Harley has for years failed to increase sales in the United States, its top market accounting for more than half of its motorcycles sold. As its tattooed, baby-boomer base ages, the Milwaukee-based company is finding it challenging to woo new customers.

In 2018, Harley posted the steepest sales decline in four years in the United States. U.S. sales are tipped to fall again this year.

Harley Davidson’s U.S. Retail Sales

Grappling with an ageing customer base and the waning charm for its big bikes, Harley has failed to post sales growth in the United States – its biggest market – in the past four years.

The heavyweight motorcycle maker’s stock price has declined by 42% in the past five years. By comparison, the S&P 500 Index .SPX has gained 47%.

Price Barrier
When Chief Executive Officer Matt Levatich announced LiveWire’s launch last year, his hope was the ease of riding motorcycles with no gears or clutch would help attract young and environmentally conscious urban riders.

In an interview with Reuters in February 2018, Levatich said the bike would help address Harley’s demographic problem.

“It is more about the next century than the last century,” he said at the time.

The preorders, thus far, have belied those hopes, according to the dealers.

“It is appealing to a demographic that is already riding,” said Gennaro Sepe, a sales manager at a Harley dealership in Chicago. His store has received four preorders for the bike. All of them are from existing riders.

Harley declined to comment on LiveWire preorders.

The motorcycle maker is not the only company investing in battery-powered transportation.

Tougher emissions rules in Europe, China and the United States are forcing auto companies to switch to electrified models. A survey of U.S. millennial motorcyclists, published in February by the Motorcycle Industry Council, found 69% of the riders interested in electric motorcycles.

Harley’s dealers said they are getting inquiries from young customers, but are struggling to translate them into sales. A key reason: LiveWire’s retail price.

“Interest is very high,” said a sales manager at a New Jersey-based dealership, who declined to be named because he was not authorized to speak to media. “But once you get to pricing, interest is thrown out of the window.”

Over half of young college graduates in America, whom Harley is courting with battery-powered bikes, are saddled with student loans that entail average repayment of $200 to $300 per month.

Harley is not offering any discount or incentives to push the sales, either, the dealers said.

In an interview with CNBC television in May, Levatich called LiveWire “one of the best engineered products on the market” and said it was worth its price.

Gary Jon Prough, general sales manager at a dealership in Countryside, Illinois, said the vast majority of millennials cannot afford the bike as LiveWire is targeted at young and affluent customers with incomes above $100,000 a year.

Tesla’s Way

To drive up sales, Prough and other dealers expect Harley to go Tesla Inc’s (TSLA.O) way: launch more affordable battery-powered vehicles after creating a buzz with the premium model.

Tesla’s first electric car cost over $100,000, but prices came down with subsequent models. Its Model 3 now comes with a base price of $35,000 and was instrumental in lifting its vehicle deliveries to a record level in the latest quarter.

Traditional Harley Davidson entry-level bikes cost about $6,900.

The motorcycle maker has plans to bring out four more electrified models in the mid-power, low-power, e-bicycles and kids’ two-wheeler segments by 2022.

But unlike Tesla, Harley does not enjoy the true first mover’s advantage.

California-based Zero Motorcycles is already selling electric bikes in the United States with retail prices ranging from $8,500 to $21,000. Its top-end bike – SR/F – is similar to LiveWire, but costs nearly $9,000 less.

Still, Bob Clark, a dealer for Zero’s bikes in Chicago, says he has not yet sold one SR/F to riders under the age of 35. All three electric bikes he sold to young riders this year were in the $10,000 price range.

“Young riders are environmentally conscious, but are also very price-sensitive,” Clark said.

It is not just pricing. LiveWire’s limited range is also hampering its sales.

The bike can travel 146 miles (235 km) in the city or 95 miles in combined city and highway riding per charge. An ordinary household outlet can provide an overnight charge, while Level 3 direct current fast chargers stationed at Harley dealers will fully charge the bike in 60 minutes.

This renders LiveWire less effective for longer-distance rides, limiting its appeal among rural riders who prefer touring bikes.

Seven Harley dealerships told Reuters they have not even bothered ordering the bike, which would require investing in a Level 3 charging station and training staff.

An Ohio-based dealer, who had initially signed up for LiveWire, said he pulled out at the last minute as he was not sure of the bike’s demand in his area.

Delayed Arrival

A delay in LiveWire’s arrival in stores has left the dealers in the Midwest and the East Coast with hardly a month to aggressively push the bike before the snow season sets in. Winter generally means a lull for motorcycle sales.

When dealers began taking preorders, the delivery was expected in August, but was later shifted to September. On Sept. 30, the dealers Reuters spoke with were still waiting for the first bike.

In a Twitter post on Oct. 2, Harley said the bikes are starting to arrive at authorized dealers. The tweet also carried a picture of the first LiveWire that was “rolled off the line” at its York, Pennsylvania, facility in late September.

With the demand rather limited, the dealers said, Harley has decided to keep the supplies tight in order to protect the bike’s brand value and prevent any price-discounting pressure. The dealers said they are all expecting to receive less than 10 LiveWires this year.

James Hardiman, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, reckons Harley would sell between 400 and 1,600 LiveWires in the first year. That is not even 1% of the 228,051 bikes it sold worldwide last year.

“This is going to be largely a rounding error certainly this year and even next,” Hardiman said.

by Trefis Team https://www.trefis.com

Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG), whose stock currently trades at around $35, generates its revenue primarily from its Motorcycle segment, which is projected to account for 86% of total revenues in 2019, while the Financial Services are expected to contribute 14% to the top line. In this note we discuss the revenue segments of Harley-Davidson, their historical performance, and expected Total Revenue for 2019. You can look at our interactive dashboard analysis ~ Harley-Davidson’s Revenue: How does HOG make money? ~ for more details. In addition, here is more Consumer Discretionary data.

Harley-Davidson’s Total Revenue has fallen by 4.7% between 2016 and 2018, and is expected to fall further by 5.9% in 2019.

Revenue expected to be around $5.4 billion, primarily from contribution of Automotive segment – For detailed bifurcation of Total Revenue please check our interactive dashboard – Harley-Davidson’s Revenue

• Revenue from Motorcycle and related products segment has fallen by 5.7% between 2016 and 2018, and is expected to fall further by 6.6% in 2019.
• Financial Services segment Revenue has grown by 3.2% between 2016 and 2018, but is expected to fall by 1.1% in 2019 amid the fall in sales.

 

Limitless. Global. Unified. WTR is a community for ALL riders.

The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) today announced its branding re-release for the We, The Riders (WTR) campaign. Both on and off the roads, all riders are equal, and there is strength in their beautiful diversity; this is the core vision of the rebranded We, The Riders campaign that is being launched today through the release of their promotional video. WTR stands ready to deliver an unmatched community experience and aims to unify the global population of motorcycling enthusiasts, providing them with a central social media hub.

Anyone can be passionate about motorcycling, anyone can learn to ride, and anyone can be a rider. Diversity is one of the fundamental, underpinning features of riding, and this historic movement will bring an unprecedented sense of closeness and community into the motorcycling world.

“Motorcycling is a global sport, pastime and passion, and it deserves an authentic, global movement that brings everyone together. Across all levels of performance, from all nations and across all differences, motorcycling has the capacity to unify people, and that is exactly what We, The Riders, is going to facilitate.” explained Jorge Viegas, FIM President.

The aim of the WTR campaign is to create a global movement for a safer, more sustainable, more exciting and more unified riding experience, free from discrimination and full of diversity. The movement was founded on four pillars, all given equal weight:

● Safety: education drives change, and the WTR movement will provide both online education and downloadable guides, as well as develop the reach of influential safety Ambassadors who are to be tasked with promoting rider safety across all aspects of motorcycling.

● Sustainability: diffusing news and information on eco-friendly motorcycling research, reporting on all concrete FIM actions for sustainability, and showcasing members’ innovative sustainability solutions are a vital part of the movement in today’s world.

● Leisure: riding is a way of life which goes beyond the passion of motorsports, and WTR brings attention to the underrepresented aspect of riding for leisure. Motorcycling also represents a large part of personal transportation in every day life. All riders are unified by the WTR campaign.

● Equality: showcasing the diversity of the WTR community and ensuring all riders are represented in our campaign materials. From gender, origin and (dis)ability to the more niche areas of motorcycling, WTR is for everyone.

About the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM):
The FIM is the official world Governing Body for motorcycle sport and the global advocate for motorcycling. Bringing together 111 National Federations, it is recognised as the sole competent authority in motorcycle sport by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Dedicated to sustainability, FIM was the first International sporting Federation to enforce an environmental code, doing so in 1994.

By launching this re-branded initiative, both the FIM and the WTR campaign are working towards a more unified motorcycling community, providing opportunities for growing the motorcycling fanbase and providing a platform for authentic, meaningful and innovative interactions and collaborations.

by Macon Atkinson from http://theparisnews.com

Paris Harley-Davidson and philanthropist Adam Sandoval have set a new Guinness World Record for continuous Harley-Davidson motorcycles on parade.

In an event dubbed Bring it Home 2019, 3,497 motorcyclists from across the country rode their Harley Davidson bikes through Paris on a 3.5 mile ride, the Guinness official announced. The record has been taken from Hellas Motorcycle Club of Patras, Greece, which previously held the record set May 22, 2010, with 2,404 Harley-Davidsons making a 2.8-mile trip.

Paris’s parade raised money for Motorcycle Missions, a nonprofit that helps first responders with PTSD. The $15 per bike registration fee was donated entirely to the nonprofit, with over 3,400 pre-registrations, said event organizer Molly Beaudin, who is also a dealer development manager for Paris Harley-Davidson.

“I don’t even know what to say. Let’s hear it for America. We officially brought it home,” Sandoval said.

See Sunday’s edition of The Paris News for more coverage of the parade.

By Emily Blume from https://www.kwqc.com

DAVENPORT, Iowa. Every year TV6 plays a big role in making sure that every child wakes up Christmas morning with a present. This is all part of Toys for Tots and some are getting a jump start on their shopping this weekend!

The Toys for Tots Motorcycle Run with ABATE of Iowa- District 15 and the USMC Reserves have their 35th Annual ride this weekend. The event kicks off at 11:00 am at Wal-Mart on West Kimberly in Davenport, Iowa. The ride itself will get going at 1:00 p.m. and ends at the Hobby Lobby parking lot in Bettendorf. The admission is one new toy per person, visible on the bike. They are asking that you don’t bring stuffed animals, or throw candy, as they’re looking out for safety and health.

Everyone is welcome Sunday, October 6th to support the ride and you don’t need a bike to donate- they’ll be collecting at the start and end of the ride.

by Joe Bartels from https://www.ktnv.com

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Downtown Grand is in a downtown dispute with its tenant Hogs & Heifers. Now the bar has been served an eviction notice and a cease-and-desist letter.

13 Investigates has been following the situation since July when owner Michelle Dell was at odds with her landlord over the use of 3rd Street between Stewart and Ogden in downtown Las Vegas.

Ultimately, the parade and gathering went on as scheduled, but then a new issue emerged.

“For me, I’m fighting the fight of my business, I’m fighting for the 40+ people I employ,” said Dell.

Dell says just 5 days after the Patriot’s Day parade and gathering she hosted, she received a 30-day notice to quit her lease.

The paperwork provided to 13 Investigates shows the bar was required to vacate the premises by mid October.

“I made a massive investment, I changed my entire life to be in [Las Vegas] and I have built a thriving business, I have been a solid contributor to our community and I love this neighborhood,” said Dell, who relocated from New York to start her bar in 2004.

On Tuesday, Dell received a second notice which demanded she stop speaking out against the Downtown Grand.

The letter claims Dell has made and continues to make false statements against the Downtown Grand on both her social media accounts and in the news media.

“On the eve of our 14th anniversary, they have sent us a cease-and-desist letter, claiming I am running a concentrated media campaign to disparage them,” said Dell.

A judge will try and sort things out next month when both sides are scheduled to be in court.

According to documents obtained by 13 Investigates, the courtroom confrontation has been building for years.

Lawyers for the Downtown Grand say Dell and her clientele have been less than ideal, writing in court filings:

“H and H has created an unsafe environment that has consistently spilled into the common areas surrounding the bar.”

“H and H routinely uses a megaphone and vulgar language to solicit pedestrians and guests of neighboring properties into its bar.”

“Numerous police and incident reports have been filed, documenting the dangerous events that are permitted and sometimes encouraged by H and H.”

13 Investigates asked Dell about the incidents and while she admits there have been troubles, including bar fights, she and her security team keep the peace and involve police when necessary

A search of online crime reports show at least 30 incidents ranging from disturbing the peace, to assault, and indecent exposure in the 200 block of 3rd Street within the past 6 months.

13 Investigates reached out to the Downtown Grand’s public relations representative but a did not receive an immediate response.

Dell says she is not backing down and she will fight the battle in court.

Wim Whatever and the Pink Slips

You’ve seen “General Hospital”, read “Penthouse Letters”, and listened to “Only The Shadow Knows”, now comes “Bandit’s Cantina” to the internet. Too terrible to mention in public, this prophetic drama takes you behind the scenes of a scurvy Mexican bar in the worst barrio in Los Angeles, San Pedro. A big Spanish building, it has never stayed in business for more that a couple of months, yet since it became a biker bar, money laundering, meth lab, it has been in business more than five years. The San Pedro District Attorney’s office has been on the alert for any signs of mischief in order to eliminate the structure and all its inhabitants from the planet. They would prefer to bulldoze the stucco dumpster into the oily harbor.

From week to week we’ll do our damnest to bring you a couple of segments of Bandit’s Cantina from various members of the staff. Since menstrual cycles, whiskey binges, psycho women and bad drug may all influence various staff member at alternating times you may never know what twists and turns you may find in the cantina. So put on your flack vest and come on in.

READ THE LATEST EPISODE ONLY IN THE CANTINA – JOIN TODAY

by Andrew Papworth at https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk

The annual event, organised by the Copdock Classic Motorcycle Club, has been running for nearly 30 years, with a chance to see bikes old and new up close.

There are also dozens of displays for true petrolheads to see the capability of some of the world’s best bikes, with thousands of people set to enjoy this year’s extravaganza.

When and where does it take place?

The 28th Copdock Motorcycle Show, which this year is sponsored by CAM Rider specialist motorcycle training centre, is being held at the Trinity Park Showground, in Felixstowe Road, Ipswich, on Sunday, October 6.

For those travelling from further afield who are not familiar with the venue, it is signposted from the A14.

The gates open at 9am and the revs don’t die down until 6pm, when the gates close.

What is there to see?

There is a full range of entertainment at the 2019 event, with the Dave Coates Stunt Show, the Tigers Children’s Motorcycle Display Team and Ken Fox’s Wall of Death all providing the opportunity for many “oohs” and “ahhs”.

There are arena displays of pre-1965 bikes and an “all things custom” marquee.

There are also several owner’s club exhibitions in the Club Village, along with many motorcycle traders.

Is there a special guest to look forward to?

This year’s guest of honour is Allen Millyard, creator of several high performance bikes, who is bringing along some of his creations.

Other than bikes, what else is there to do?

The Copdock Motorcycle Show is billed as having “something for all the family”.

This year’s event has live music, real ale, food and entertainment – and is family-friendly for those looking to bring children along.

How many people are going?

The event is set to be popular – 1,400 people have said they are going on the club’s Facebook page, with another 4,500 saying they are interested in attending.

Organisers can certainly expect several thousand people to turn up on the day.

What does it cost?

Advance electronic tickets, priced at £8.50, are available from the Copdock Classic Motorcycle Club’s website at www.copdock-cmc.co.uk

Tickets on the day are £10 for adults, with children aged 14 and under getting in for free – provided they are accompanied by an adult.