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2020 Harley-Davidson Touring Models Unveiled

The 2020 Harley-Davidson Touring range has been introduced.
Almost all models feature the new Reflex Defensive Rider System.
Headlining the range is the new Street Glide Standard.

The 2020 Harley-Davidson Touring range has been introduced.

Harley’s tourers represent the sense of freedom on the open road while being accompanied by a big-cube, thumping engine. In fact, it was Harley who started the “bagger” and later on full-dress tourer tradition.

Model Year 2020 Asset Capture Photography. INTERNATIONAL ONLY

The 2020 Touring models are equipped with chassis/traction control which the Motor Company calls Reflex Defensive Rider System. It’s designed to match the bike’s performance to available traction during acceleration, deceleration and braking by utilising the latest chassis control, electronic brake control and powertrain technology. (Not available on the Electra Glide Standard and Road King.)

Heading the lineup is the new Electra Glide Standard which offers a “dressed down dresser” style for riders whose only wish is the raw, unbridled sensation of a motorcycle, unencumbered by other distractions. Available only in Vivid Black, it’s priced from RM 132,400.

Other models set to join it are the Road King, Road King Special, Street Glide Special, Road Glide Special and Electra Glide Ultra Limited.

“The passion for Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Malaysia is growing and the new 2020 line-up will surely please those looking to hit the road with an impressive new machine,” said Mr. Johan Kleinsteuber, Managing Director, Harley-Davidson Asia Emerging Markets. “We leverage our unmatched ability to blend style, performance and technology in products designed to elevate the motorcycling experience. With our prices that start from RM62,800, we make discovering freedom easier than ever”.

Find out more on: bit.ly/MY20-MYS

You may also visit Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya for more details.

Harley-Davidson Bronx Shown at EICMA 2019

The Harley-Davidson Bronx was shown at EICMA 2019.
It sports the Revolution Max 975 engine.
It isn’t the production-ready version, however.

Another version of the Harley-Davidson Bronx was shown at EICMA 2019, and it’s not the production-ready version.

It was intended to be the Motor Company’s streetfighter, but they know better than to call it that since the current arms war in the segment has driven them to over 200 bhp.

So, the Bronx it is as an homage (?) to the “rough and tough” part of New York City.

Anyhow, the engine is a new Revolution Max 975. Instead of the usual air-cooled, 45-degree Big Twin, the Revolution Max 975 is a liquid-cooled, 60-degree V-Twin, similar to the 1247cc Revolution found in the V-Rod. Harley claimed the engine to produce 115 bhp and 95 Nm of torque.

The model does look like how a naked bike should, and is fitted by “modern” components such as radially-mounted Brembo monobloc front brake calipers.

Only thing is we wonder why the manufacturer is taking so long to ready the production bike, since the concept was shown off since EICMA 2018. With so many bikes debuting all at the same time, new bike fatigue sets in quickly, making bikes introduced too long ago “obsolete” by the the time they are “introduced” again.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire Production Halts

Production of the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle has halted.
The company says that its due to a “non-standard condition.”
But a media report suggests that it could be to the charging mechanism.

Production of the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle has halted.

Harley-Davidson did not provide the specifics of the decision, instead they mentioned only a “non-standard condition.” They also mentioned that investigations are underway to provide customers with products of the best quality.

However, according to The Wall Street Journal, the problem could well be the bike’s charging mechanism. The Motor Company recommended the use of professional DC fast-chargers instead of normal home chargers.

Units of LiveWire were already sent to select dealers in September this year but no sales number was released as yet. A recall has not been issued at this time also.

The LiveWire is supposed to kick start Harley’s flagging sales especially in the United States where millennials are shunning motorcycles. The design of the bike and being electric demonstrates the manufacturers keenest in harnessing this group. Its electric motor produces the equivalent of 105 hp and there is no clutch lever or gear shifter. It’s all twist and go.

But many overseas media reported lately that the model is finding few buyers, what not given its USD 29,799 price tag.

But CEO Matt Levatich defends the company’s decision saying that, “We made a deliberate decision to launch a halo product to demonstrate what’s possible in electric — a no-excuses Harley-Davidson electric — and we feel very good that we’ve already done that.” Levatich produced that statement in July.

Harley-Davidson didn’t state when production of the LiveWire will continue.

Ewan McGregor and Charley Borman to Ride Harley-Davidson LiveWire in Long Way Up?

Ewan McGregor and his ridding buddy Charley Borman may ride the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle in the documentary Long Way Up.
It seems like a compromise as the two are ambassadors to Moto Guzzi and Triumph, respectively.
The program will cover their trip from South America to Los Angeles, USA.

Ewan McGregor and his ridding buddy Charley Borman may just ride the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle in the upcoming documentary Long Way Up.

The trip will see the duo travel from South America to Los Angeles, California instead of all the way to Alaska as expected earlier. South American media spotted four of the electric bikes and support trucks being offloaded in Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina.

While we’re not criticizing the LiveWire, it has a highway range of up to only 150 km and 235 km in the city. However, it’s charging times that may drag the trip into a longer period of time. On the other hand, Harley announced that they’ve fast chargers that juice up the bike to 80% capacity in 40 minutes and 100% in an hour.

They may be supported by a pair of electric Rivian R1T trucks that have a range of up tp 650 km. These trucks will undoubted carry DC chargers for the bikes.

Riding Harleys seemed to solve the problem of representation. McGregor is the ambassador for the Moto Guzzi V85TT while Borman is the ambassador for Triumph Motorcycles. Many had expected to see the guys on two different bikes in this sequel. They rode the BMW R 1200 GS in Long Way Round in 2004 and Long Way Down in 2007.

It’ll be a high-profile branding exercise for the Motor Company, that’s for sure.

Harley-Davidson International Sales Down 9% in Q2 2019

International sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles dropped another 8.9% in Q2 2019, compared to the same period in 2018.
Their Q2 2019 revenue dropped nearly 20% compared to Q2 2018.
The company has initiated campaigns to target younger riders.

International sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles dropped another 8.9% in Q2 2019, compared to the same period in 2018.

In terms of numbers, the Motor Company earned a net income of USD 195.6 million from a revenue of USD 1.63 billion in Q2 2019. By comparison, their net earnings were USD 242.3 million from a revenue of USD 1.71 billion in Q2 2018. That’s a drop in net income of 19.3%.

Harley-Davidson has since initiated campaigns to target younger riders by introducing models that are not cruisers and even an electric bike in the Live Wire. The campaigns may be starting to bear fruit as the company reported an increase of 2.7% of buyers aged between 18 to 34 years old in America, in Q2 2019.

They’ve also partnered with Chinese motorcycle maker, Qianjiang to produce a 338cc model for the Chinese and eventually Asian markets.

The figures were posted amidst the American industry’s drop of 4.9%. There are fears of the American economy heading for another recession. Trump’s trade wars against China and the European Union will not do any favour for Harley-Davidson, either.

Will Harley ever turn around and be the juggernaut it once?

LEGO Creator Expert Harley-Davidson Fat Boy, Not For Your Kids Only

The LEGO Group revealed its latest LEGO Creator Expert Harley-Davidson Fat Boy model.
The model features 1,023 pieces and measures 20 cm high, 18 cm wide and 33 cm long.
There are moving and working parts on the model.

The LEGO Group revealed its latest LEGO Creator Expert Harley-Davidson Fat Boy model that will cruise into LEGO Stores globally on August 1, 2019.

Developed in collaboration with Harley-Davidson, this detailed LEGO interpretation of the iconic Milwaukee motorcycle captures the beauty of the real-life machine with finishes, surfaces, and design elements crafted to replicate the full-size Harley-Davidson Fat Boy. Featuring 1,023 pieces, the model comes complete with solid-disc wheels, teardrop fuel tank, integrated speedometer, and dual exhaust pipes.

The finished model measures over 20 cm high, 18 cm wide and 33 cm long and features several moveable parts for owners to engage. Spinning the rear tyre will the Milwaukee-Eight engine with moving pistons and dual exhaust pipes, spring to life. Turn the handlebar, move the gear shift and brake levers, and flip down the motorcycle’s kickstand for easy parking. Finished with an authentic dark red and black color scheme with Harley-Davidson logos on each side reflective of the 2019 Fat Boy motorcycle’s Wicked Red paint scheme, it’s a perfect display centerpiece for any home, office, or anywhere to channel the inspiration to ride.

“Bringing this Harley-Davidson motorcycle to life in brick form is incredibly exciting,” said Mike Psiaki, Design Master at LEGO Group. “The model truly captures the iconic design, advanced engineering and attention to detail of this iconic motorcycle, offering an immersive building experience and a unique collector’s item for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts and LEGO fans of all ages.”

“It’s been exceptionally exciting for Harley-Davidson to collaborate with the LEGO Group – another brand that champions creativity and expression,” said Heather Malenshek, Chief Marketing Officer at Harley-Davidson. “Not only do we want customers to be inspired by the end result, we want them to enjoy the building process.”

“The authenticity of Harley-Davidson design comes by sweating the details from start to finish.” said Brad Richards, Vice President of Styling & Design, Harley-Davidson. “We looked at every nut and bolt on the bike, all the finishes, and every small detail. Working with the LEGO team on this project allowed us to bring that same attention to detail to a collaborative product, and to celebrate a brand that inspired the imagination and creativity of many of us at Harley-Davidson from a young age, including myself.”

To celebrate the launch, LEGO Master Builders created a life-size model of the motorcycle, complete with silver coated parts, Wi-Fi animation control, sound and light effects to imitate a real Harley-Davidson Fat Boy and 6,000 special LEGO elements. The extraordinary creation took 865 hours to build, is made of 69,569 pieces and will be on display at select LEGO stores and Harley-Davidson events for fans to see.

The LEGO Creator Expert Harley-Davidson Fat Boy model is available directly from LEGO Stores and shop.LEGO.com exclusively for LEGO VIP members beginning July 17, 2019, with general public availability beginning August 1, 2019.

As for us, we cannot wait until it gets here.

Harley-Davidson of Penang Brings Heavy Metal Thunder to the North

Harley-Davidson of Penang has officially re-opened.
It is located at Auto Juru City, Perai, Penang.
The dealership is a full-fledged branch offering an entire ecosystem for Harley owners, including sales, aftersales, merchandize, riding gear and so forth.

Harley-Davidson owners and fans in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia now have a new place to call home. This follows the official re-opening of the Harley-Davidson of Penang.

The opening brings the total of Harley dealerships to three. Together with the Penang branch, Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya (HDPJ) and Harley-Davidson of Melaka (HDOM) reinforces the brand’s commitment to expand its footprint and strengthening its dealership network in this growing market.

GB Motorcycles Sdn. Bhd. will operate the Penang dealership. GB Motorcycles is formed from a partnership between Goh Brothers Group (an automotive retail group with extensive expertise and reach) and Kheoh Hock Seng (a specialist in premium motorcycles in Penang).

The dealership’s opening was graced by the Directors of the company, Mr. Goh Kian Sin and Mr. Kheoh Hock Seng; Mr. Koh Jyn Woei, District Manager at Harley-Davidson Asia Emerging Markets; and scores of Harley owners.

Mr. Johan Kleinsteuber, Managing Director of Harley-Davidson Asia Emerging Markets, said,“With strong commitment to the Malaysian market since 2008, Harley-Davidson is devoted to building up a trusted community for local biking enthusiasts and establishing a robust dealership network across the country. Our dealerships are important to us as they lie at the core of delivering the full premium Harley-Davidsonmotorcycling experience to customers. We are excited to have GB Motorcycles Sdn Bhd as our partner, and will be working closely with them to inspire more people to experience the Harley-Davidson brand and build the next generation of Harley-Davidson riders”.

What can you look forward to?

The new dealership isn’t a just a place that sells Harleys. Instead, it is an entire lifestyle ecosystem for the Harley family.

Among the facilities:

A large 6,000 sq. ft. (557 sq. m.) showroom, which is able to fit display bikes, merchandize, accessories, riding gear and large groups of riders.
The company invested RM 6 million in the dealership, aftersales, bikes, merchandize, accessories and parts for the ultimate customer experience. It also means that customers do not have to wait for servicing and parts.

Full range of models from the Sportster, all the way to the Tri Glide Ultra trike.
New CKD bikes priced from a super attractive RM62,600 for the Sportster (installment of only RM32 per day) to the Softail from RM97,800 (installment of just RM46 per day).

Besides the awesome pricing, Harley-Davidson of Penang also offers 1-year free service and 2-years factory warranty.
Besides the bikes and merchandize, the 4S Centre also includes a fully-equipped 3-bay workshop, complete with trained and professional H-D service personnel who graduated from H-D University, and special tools.

The dealership is located at the northern auto hub of Juru Autocity. The strategic location allows H-D owners from Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak an easy location to ride to.
H-D of Penang will also set up a roadshow satellite outlet soon in Penang to better service the island’s customers.

Mr. Kheoh believes in personalized service to each and every customer, so you may contact him directly when you call on Harley-Davidson of Penang. You may also call 04-5062200.

10 Minit Bersama Dato’ Anand, Presiden Shadowfax MG

Kita telah berpeluang untuk bersembang dengan Dato’ Anand, Presiden Shadowfax MG.
Kumpulan motosikal ini bergerak aktif berkonvoi dan melakukan kerja kebajikan di Malaysia dan luar negara.
Mereka mempunyai rancangan untuk menunggang ke Jepun dan London dengan motosikal Harley mereka.

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10 Minutes with Dato’ Anand, President of Shadowfax MC

We had a chat with Dato’ Anand, the President of Shadowfax MC.
The group is active in riding and performing charities in Malaysia and overseas.
There are further plans to ride in Japan and to London on their own Harleys.

One thing interesting aspect about motorcycling is meeting people from all aspects of life. We met up with Dato’ Anand, the President of Shadowfax MC for a chat.

The group consists of Harley-Davidson owners only and is very active in riding and performing charity work around Malaysia and overseas.

BikesRepublic.com:You own many Harley-Davdison motorcycles, and you took delivery of a 115^thAnniversary CVO Limited (the exclusive version of the Electra Glide Ultra Limited) recently. What other bikes do you have?
Dato’ Anand:I have a 105^thAnniversary Electra Glide, 110^thAnniversary Road King, the 115^thAnniversary CVO and a Honda Gold Wing.

BikesRepublic.com:When did you start riding Harleys?
Dato’ Anand:I started in 2007 on an Ultra.

BikesRepublic.com:What got you interested in Harley-Davidson motorcycles?
Dato’ Anand:Harleys is about style and presence. It’s a recognized brand worldwide. I loved Harleys since I was young but couldn’t afford one yet. I rode a Kawasaki back then. But later I was the first customer when Harley was at Naza.

That was the 105^thAnniversary Electra Glide. I paid for the bike when I was in Sabah while doing a charity for the China earthquake.

When Harley-Davidson came over to Gasket Alley (Didi Resources) 15 years later, I wanted to be the first CVO owner. I’m now looking forward to the next 4 years (2023 for the 120^thAnniversary). Am thinking of getting two anniversary bikes, but after that (grimaces and gestured “no more”.)

It’s because I have too many bikes. Look at my Road King in the workshop now. I only rode from my house to Hard Rock Café and back. I use the other two bikes for overseas rides.

I did a Merdeka ride two years ago, from KL to India. We passed six countries: Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, Nepal and finally India.

We also rode in New Zealand.

The difference here is that we ship over our own bikes, rather than flying in and renting from there. Our trademark is to bring our own bikes.

I only rent my bikes in the US. Whereas we used our own bikes all the way to Sri Lanka, and Kunming in China. We’ve done Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam.

Next, we will head to Japan in May.

Phuket Bike Week is normal, we’ve also gone to the Tachileik Bike Week in Myanmar. I brought the HDPJ Chapter there in Myanmar.

BikesRepublic.com:How many members do you have in your club?
Dato’ Anand:I’ve 23 members in our club. Everyone is active but usually only 10 will ride overseas. Others have their commitments and time constraints, so we understand. To us, family is the most important.

BikesRepublic.com:What is the main mission of Shadowfax?
Dato’ Anand:We concentrate on doing charities. We look for those in need a provide our support. For example, a child needs money for school, we support. We should always do something good, give back to the community.

BikesRepublic.com:What activities are you planning for this year?
Dato’ Anand:The other one is the ride in Japan. No one from Malaysia brought their own bike there to ride. Renting a bike overseas isn’t as nice as riding your own bike. We hold overseas rides annually.

For example, we went to Myanmar last year and completed almost 6000 km.

We are planning to hold a Merdeka ride from KL to London next year. We’ll meet with the Malaysian Ambassador there and hold the celebrations at the embassy.

Of course, we have short weekend rides for some breakfast or tea.

Besides that, we support all the local bike weeks. So next weekend (10-11^thMarch) is the Terengganu Bike Week. There’ll be plenty of riding in March. There’s the Danok Bike Week, opening of the Penang branch on the 16^th.

BikesRepublic.com:What do you think of Harley-Davidson of Petaling Jaya, so far?
Dato’ Anand:HDPJ is very good so far. Good service from the staff, service crew.

BikesRepublic.com:How has HDPJ been supportive to you and your club?
Dato’ Anand: We’ve not asked anything from HDPJ so far, but they should support the KL-London ride. The previous dealership supported tyres and servicing for our ride to India. It’s because we are promoting HDPJ and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. We’re riding our bikes all the way there.

We’re not asking for money, just tyres and servicing.

Anyway, I’d like to say that Shadowfax has proven that Harley-Davidsons can be ridden through rough situations. Everyone said, “Cannot, only BMW can.” But we proved it with the touring models. We rode for 12,700 km and earned an entry in the Malaysian Book of Record.

So far, no Malaysian has ridden to London on a Harley.

PICTURE GALLERY

Tahukah Anda Akan Kewujudan Motosikal Berkapasiti Kecil Harley-Davidson?

Harley-Davidson mungkin lebih dikenali kerana motosikal cruiser berkapasiti besar V-Twin mereka, tetapi, mereka juga pernah menghasilkan motosikal berkapasiti kecil.
Motosikal berkapasiti kecil ini adalah hasil daripada pembelian syarikat Aermacchi oleh Harley-Davidson.
Ada kemungkinan yang Harley-Davidson akan menawarkan motosikal berkapasiti kecil pada masa yang akan datang.

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Did You Know Harley-Davidson Made Small Capacity Bikes?

Harley-Davidson may be famous for heavyweight V-Twin cruisers, but they used to make small capacity bikes, too.
The small bikes were result of Harley buying over Aermacchi.
Who knows if the Motor Company will produce small capacity bikes again.

Think about Harley-Davidson motorcycles and your mind creates a slideshow of large-sized, heavyweight, iron horses that create micro earthquakes with their signature rumble.

But, did you know that Harley-Davidson actually produced small capacity bikes in their 100+ year old history? Yes, they did. Some worked, some were goofy, but all are gone.

However, there are rumors that the Motor Company will start producing smaller bikes again. The motorcycle buyer demographic has shifted over the years to smaller, cheaper and easier to ride bikes, so the mutterings may turn out to be true.

Let’s take a look at a few of them.

1948 Harley-Davidson S-125

Not everyone could afford and handle a Panhead, so the Motor Company decided to make a more accessible bike. The S-125 was a direct copy of the 1938 DKW RT125 two-stroke. Well, Harley didn’t “copy” the DKW illegally, instead the design was given to the USA a part of Germany’s war reparations.

As such, the same bike is seen as the BSA Bantam in Great Britain, Minsk in the USSR, Yamaha YA-1 in Japan. But it was also produced almost everywhere including Poland and Italy.

1958 Harley-Davidson Topper

The Topper was a rebadged DKW. It was powered by a 165cc, air-cooled two-stroke which needs to be started by pulling a cord, like you would a lawnmower. Sold until 1965, the first generation used the “Scootaway Drive” CVT. However, the belt fell prey to road grime and other contaminants, causing it to slip constantly. So, the updated 1961 model came with a sealed final drive.

1961 Harley-Davidson Sprint 250

Harley bought an Italian company called Aeronautica Macchi, better known as Aermacchi. The result was a slew of lightweights. The bike was fun, according to classic motorcycle aficionados, but Harley fans didn’t like it.

1966 Harley-Davidson Bobcat

The Bobcat is the successor to the S-125. It had a novel feature of one-piece molded seat, tank and rear fender. Harley didn’t make many Bobcats but its styling influenced the “boattail” Low Rider, XLCR Sportster, Triumph X75 Hurricane and Spanish Bultacos and Ossas.

1971 Harley-Davidson Snowmobile

Yes, it isn’t a motorcycle per se, but Harley is a motorcycle manufacturer. The American Machine and Foundry Corportation (AMF) owned both Harley and hence Aermacchi at the time. Besides the boom for mini bikes, the 70’s was also a boom time for snowmobiles. It started out with a 398cc two-stroke, before going up to 433cc. Nearly 10,000 were made by the time it went out of production in 1975.

1973 Harley-Davidson Shortster

That isn’t a typo, you read it right – Shortster. It was the Motor Company’s entry into the minibike craze during the time (read: Honda Monkey), besides introducing the brand to kids. Harley’s plan didn’t work, of course. Folks flocked the cheaper and more reliable Monkey.

1974 Harley-Davidson/Aermacchi RR250 Grand Prix Racer

Four-time Grand Prix World Champion Walter Villa worked with Aermacchi to develop this 250cc two-cylinder two-stroke. He beat out Yamaha in the Italian GP at Monza in 1974 and 1975.

1975 Harley-Davidson SS350

The SS350 was a two-stroke single, the last from the Harley-Aermacchi venture. Harley’s involvement in the lightweight market was also coming to an end, having being beaten by the Japanese manufacturers.

Kingz MG Melawat Harley-Davidson Petaling Jaya (HDPJ)

Sebagai salah satu cara mereka mengiktiraf dan menghargai para pemilik dan kelab pemilik Harley-Davidson di Malaysia, Harley-Davidson Petaling Jaya telah menjadi tuan rumah untuk acara konvoi dan pelbagai aktiviti.
Kumpulan terkini yang telah berhimpun di HDPJ adalah Kingz MG sewaktu konvoi mereka menuju ke Pantai Timur.
HDPJ telah memberi sokongan kepada konvoi ini dengan memberikan bantuan teknikal dan juga baucar Cabutan Bertuah.

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