Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson

Type	Public company
Traded as	NYSE: HOG
Founded	1903
Founder(s)	William S. Harley Arthur Davidson Walter Davidson William A. Davidson
Headquarters	Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Key people	Keith E. Wandell, CEO
Products	Motorcycles
Revenue	US$4.86 billion (FY 2010)
Operating income	US$259.7 million (FY 2010)
Net income	US$146.5 million (FY 2010)
Employees	6,300 (December 2010)
Website	harley-davidson.com

Harley-Davidson, the iconic American motorcycle brand with a cult-like following, has announced it has chosen to build its second assembly plant ever outside the United States in India.

The "complete knock down" plant or CKD is expected to be up and running in the northern Indian state of Haryana in first half of 2011. Parts made in America will be put together for the Indian market in Haryana.



"What we are doing is made in USA, assembled in India, which will have a positive job effect back home which is why we are driving this investment as quickly as we are," Anoop Prakash managing director for Harley Davidson India told CNN.

harley davidson in india

HARLEY-DAVIDSON PICTURES

Looking for Harley-Davidson pictures? We have Harley pictures that you can use as Harley-Davidson desktop wallpaper or whatever you would like to use them for.

Pictures of your favorite Harley on your desktop can be a great motovator. We'll be posting more pictures of Harleys from the early 1900s up to 2009. Some of the pictures might have to be resized using your graphic software. Just "right click" on the picture and "Save Picture As" to your PC or "Set As Background". Check out our Harley-Davidson Wallpaper page, where you can find more Harley pictures you can use for your desktop.

We also have tips and advise on Harley-Davidson performance, maintenance, buying, new models, Harley history and more.

 

Harley Sportster custom

Of all the Asian countries, Japan has the highest profile in the custom scene, and has even exported the whole genre of SR400 modifications. But other countries are getting more press now, with Australian shop Deus moving into Bali and the whole Indonesian scene gaining momentum. Now it looks like the turn of Taiwan, helped by classy new magazines such as Free Biker. This hunkered-down Sportster custom is called Guerrilla: it’s just graced the pages of Free Biker, and comes from an upstart new Taipei shop called Rough Crafts. According to builder Winston Yeh, “The initial idea for this bike was to get it to look custom, without being too ‘far out’—because Taiwan has a crazy regulation that all bikes bigger than 250cc have to pass an annual exam after they are older than five years. The bike is compared to the stock picture and if it looks too different, it will be hard to pass. With that in mind, I tried to create a bike that has similar profile to stock. So you probably think it’s ‘normal’ from far away, but you can see the customization when up close.” The bike takes Harley’s Nightster theme a step further, with a chopped front end, new bars, bodywork and lighting—and a terrific exhaust system that adds to the compact, muscular vibe. Excellent work from a builder worth keeping an eye on, so check out Rough Crafts’ blog for regular updates.

Tech spec

2009 Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron 883

Builder: Winston Yeh

City/state: Taipei, Taiwan

Company: Rough Crafts

Fabrication: Rough Crafts

Welding: Winston/Shin Metal Works

Parts Design: Winston Yeh

Air cleaner: Rough Crafts

Exhaust: Rough Crafts

Mufflers: Rough Crafts

Frame: Stock with a little chop-off

Front End: Stock chopped/Rough Crafts Triple Trees

Tank: Rough Crafts

Fenders: Rough Crafts

Paint: Rough Crafts/BianChin Paint Studio

Graphics: Rough Crafts

Tires: Coker 5.10×16″

Foot controls: Stock Mid

Handlebar controls: Rough Crafts

Throttle: Neo Factory

Headlight: Rough Crafts grill-type headlight

Taillight: Rough Crafts grill-type LED taillight

Seat: Rough Crafts

Mirror: none

Gas caps: Rough Crafts

Handlebars: Rough Crafts

Risers: Rough Crafts

Grips: Rough Crafts

Harley Davidson XL 1200N Nightster

Harley-Davidson India Announces Dealers

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Harley-Davidson has announced the appointment of its first five dealers across India in Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. The dealers appointed will be the sole retailers for Harley-Davidson motorcycles, genuine parts and accessories, and Motorclothes apparel and will operate authorized service centers across the five cities in India. The Harley-Davidson dealerships are being designed to the company’s global standards and will reflect the essence of the brand, offering customers the opportunity to experience what riders across the world have experienced for over a century. Harley-Davidson will offer 12 models from their 2010 line-up, with bookings beginning on April 20, 2010, in each city.

“Today, I’m delighted and proud to welcome on-board the first dealers in India to the Harley-Davidson family. Each owner brings distinct talents and a shared passion for delivering extraordinary customer experiences. Our aim is to create a strong network that will provide our customers a world-class Harley-Davidson ownership experience, and we are off to a great start,” Anoop Prakash, MD, Harley-Davidson India, said.

Background

So, many of you might be thinking, "What is an avid superbike racer and sportbike enthusiast doing testing a Harley Davidson?"  Harley is not exactly known for producing cutting edge sportbikes.

Well, I would be lying if I didn't say I also asked myself this exact thing.  That is until I did some research on the Harley XR1200.

Actually, even before getting to research my upcoming ride I was actually won over purely by the visual appearance of the XR1200.  The design is one that is muscular, clean and sporty with just the right touch of dirt tracker nostalgia thrown in.  Suddenly I found myself becoming more intrigued by this grey and silver motorcycle that is surely inspired by the highly popular XR750 racer. 

Throw in the fact that I witnessed my first AMA Pro Flat Track this year at Pomona and the whole concept of what Harley-Davidson was trying to achieve with this model was becoming much more clear.

My first real hint of the sportiness of this machine however was during the pickup.  One of the fleet center employees mentioned to me how the XR1200 was actually being raced in Europe.  Yes, you heard me right, I said Europe.

The European version taking to the track with Öhlins suspension components, Termignoni exhaust and wave rotor brakes.  Who would have thought this All-American machine would be making its debut appearance on track in Europe and not stateside?

Well, have no fear, the AMA has just announced the XR1200 will soon be racing here in the U.S. as well, in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 Spec Racing Series.  This will be a five-race championship series, featuring specially modified Harley-Davidson XR1200 motorcycles.

Although I would not be taking the XR1200 to the track, and the version I was riding did not have the go-fast European modifications, I was still eager to swing a leg over the XR1200 and see just how good this bike is.

XR1200 Engine and Suspension

The XR1200 features a rubber-mounted 1200 cc V-twin with a 10:1 compression ratio that puts out roughly 90 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and 74 ft-lbs of torque at 4,000 RPM.

The XR1200 boasts performance cams, downdraft fuel injection, precision-cooled cylinder heads and a large capacity oil cooler.  A high volume 2-1-2 straight shot exhaust finished in satin chrome does away with spent gasses and, in my personal opinion, does it in a very attractive manner.

In an effort to save weight and improve handing, the XR uses a hollow cast-aluminum swingarm, a break from the traditional steel units found on typical Sportsters.  The XR also utilizes 3-spoke cast wheels and Dunlop Qualifier tires designed specifically for the XR1200.  Sizes are 120/70ZR18 in front and 180/55ZR17 on the rear.

Suspension duties are handled via 43 mm inverted Showa forks which are non-adjustable and dual coil-over shocks in the rear with preload adjustment.

Controls and Ergonomics

The Harley-Davidson XR1200 weighs in at 580 pounds in running order and is brought to a halt with Nissin four-piston calipers and two 292 mm discs up front and a single piston floating rear brake.

Simple probably best describes the controls and cockpit on the XR1200.  Sitting above the handlebar is an analog tachometer with a slightly smaller digital speedometer.  Harley-Davidson has gone with very basic controls and gauges to keep with the clean and retro look but I could not help being somewhat disappointed in this department; I think a little attention to detail and some added elements of design could have gone a long way towards adding some style to what is otherwise a classic beauty.

I waited until very late morning to fire up the new beast making a home in my garage.  This is a Harley-Davidson, let's not forget, and surely the sheer volume of firing up the V-twin powerplant will be enough to rattle the windows and wake the neighbors.  Well, to my surprise, the XR1200 sounds a little on the mild side; not only by Harley-Davidson standards but in comparison to most motorcycles sharing the same displacement.

Handling

Getting the XR up to speed was not a problem with a healthy amount of grunt at low RPM.  Torque is strong in the 3,000-5000 RPM range -- as you would expect from a big V-Twin -- but don't expect the motor to pull very hard at higher revs.

To keep the XR running strong, I was moving steadily through the gearbox to make up for the lack of high-RPM power.  The XR1200 powerplant ran extremely smooth and the rubber mounted engine had no excessive vibration.

AMA Grand National Champ Scott Parker helped assist in the chassis and handling department during the development of the XR1200 and I would have to say this is one of the strongest areas of this Sportster.

The XR1200 is extremely well balanced and hides its weight quite well; it transitions with ease on the open road and, coupled with the comfortable ergonomics, was an extremely easy bike to get used to and to feel comfortable on.  The seat was comfy enough for long stints and the bars were wide and well placed with no uncomfortable bends at the wrists.

The XR1200 Utilizes a "split-rake" design to give the XR an assertive steering input while still allowing for a relaxed ride.  While the XR will never be mistaken for a sportbike, there are benefits to this design.  The XR never felt twitchy or unstable during my daily rides or while cranking it over through some long winding canyon bends and I was grateful for the added grip of the Dunlop Qualifiers.

While the balanced chassis of the XR makes for an enjoyable ride, the suspension front and back does have limitations.

Contact with any significant potholes or square edge bumps tended to create some harsh transfers through the chassis.  The forks seemed to be blowing through the stroke too quickly and this was leading to some hard hits up front that could be felt throughout the chassis and handlebars.  This could also be due to the short amount of suspension travel; 4.9 inches in the front and 3.5 inches at the rear.

The wide clutch lever had a very classic Harley-Davidson feel to it and I actually liked the feel of the extra width at the lever.  The clutch actuation was relatively light as well.

The 5-Speed transmission performed flawlessly but definitely feels quite mechanical, as if you can feel every moving part as you click through the gears.  Engagement was precise and finding neutral was an easy task even if the feel was not silky smooth.

A touch of the Nissin brakes is all that was needed to bring the XR1200 down from speed.  Stopping power was impressive and the feel at the lever gave me the confidence needed to stop the XR in a hurry.  I've ridden a few Harley-Davidons in the past and the one thing that always scared me was their lack of stopping power.  Not so on the XR1200, the brakes were definitely up to the task.

Accessorize!

Harley-Davidson has always been more than just the motorcycle; for many it's a statement.  A way of life.

Wearing the Harley-Davidson Classic Leather Jacket (I think I might have been just as excited to rock this Classic Harley jacket as I was to ride the XR1200) and riding the XR1200 was a chance for me to experience this Harley-Davidson fraternity.  Lucky for me, I was able to experience it on a model as sports-oriented and capable as the XR1200.

Conclusion

When speaking to sportbike riders and fellow racers I often mentioned I was testing a Harley-Davidson to which I would receive some strange looks.  I would quickly respond with, "you don't understand, this is not the Harley-Davidson you are thinking of.  This bike is freakin' cool, you need to see it."

The XR1200 is a highly refined and capable motorcycle but does have it's performance limitations.  Lacking adjustable suspension and producing low HP numbers, the XR1200 does not rival many of the European streetfighters on the market in sporting ability.

What the XR1200 lacks in performance numbers however, it more than makes up for with iconic styling and the pure roadside interest it attracts.  Harley-Davidson has designed a motorcycle with a wide appeal that attracts cruiser riders and the sport rider alike.  Looking for an iconic classic that performs?  Then look no further.