The Motor Company Archives

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.

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?

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