Harley-Davidson said Friday it would buy the Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta Group for about $109 million to increase its presence in Europe.

MV Agusta makes a line of premium sport motorcycles under its name brand and a line of lightweight motorcycles under the Cagiva brand.

The deal will help Harley-Davidson expand into the European market as sales slump in the United States, where consumers are pulling back on spending...

Read the full article at the New York Times

Checkout MV Augusta Motorcycles at Sportbike Parts and Motorcycles - MV Augusta For Sale

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Harley-Davidson will be cutting 300 jobs at their largest manufacturing plant in Springettsbury Township amid slow sales. Harley is hoping employees will opt for early retirement, but layoffs have already begun.

From the article:
Spokesman Bob Klein said in a phone message the workforce reductions -- part of a plan by Harley released in April to cut about 730 workers companywide -- would continue through the summer.

"That layoff process has begun and will be ongoing in stages," Klein said...

Read the full article by Brett Burkey in the York Daily Record

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The man in black, Kenny Coolbeth, won his second AMA Flat Track Twins Championship in a row before a packed house on Saturday at the Mountain Raceway Park in Maryville.

The Harley-Davidson Factory-backed Coolbeth once again led all 25 laps of the main event, holding off Joe Kopp and his Screamin' Eagle/Latus Harley-Davidson backed XR-750.

The original start was aborted when

Read the full story in The Daily Times

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Harley-Davidson has announced the route for their 105th Anniversary Parade, called the Harley-Davidson Parade of MDA Heroes in Milwaukee on Saturday, August 30, 2008. The parade starts at 9 a.m., leaving from Miller Park. The public viewing area begins at 35th Street and Wisconsin Avenue. The parade proceeds east on Wisconsin Avenue, then turns South on Milwaukee Street, then east on Erie Street. The parade concludes at the parking area for the Henry Meier Festival Park.

The 105 top fundraisers for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) from around the U.S. will lead the parade of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. To be a lead rider in the parade, riders must have raised at least $6,400 for MDA prior to the August 1, 2008 deadline. The minimum fund raising amount of $6,400 will send eight kids to MDA Summer Camp. Tony Shields, Harley-Davidson Manager of Community Relations said, "the 105th Anniversary Parade is a unique chance for the family of Harley-Davidson customers, dealers, suppliers, employees and sponsors to celebrate the excitement of 105 years of Harley-Davidson and at the same time help support the Muscular Dystrophy Association." Help raise money for the MDA and find out how you can lead the parade.

The celebration also includes food, bands such as the Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street band and the Foo Fighters, the Harley-Davidson Museum, and H.O.G.'s 25th Anniversary celebration at Miller Park. To get tickets and see the schedule, visit the Harley-Davidon 105th Anniversary page.

by Robert M.
July 1, 2008

Here's a link for the parade route map at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. (ed. to add map link 8/27/08)

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WILLIAMSPORT — Sporting white, pink and sparkling gold Hannah Montana sneakers, a left leg brace and an orange do-rag, 8-year-old Brittany Weese strode up to the side car of a Harley-Davidson Road Glide on Saturday and hopped in, claiming her title as grand marshal of Brittany’s Ride.

“I think it’s going to be fun,” Brittany said. “I get to ride on a motorcycle I haven’t been on. I’m excited.”

As the Road Glide began to roll, Brittany let out a whoop and holler while onlookers applauded.

The event at Harley-Davidson and Buell of Williamsport ...

Read the full story by Alicia Notarianni at the Herald-Mail.com (Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia

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The police motorcycle -- favored by the CHP and the L.A. Sheriff's Department -- keeps drivers in line.
By Susan Carpenter, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
June 25, 2008

The most menacing bike on the road isn't some low-riding, super-stretched chopper with a suicide clutch and battle-ax rims, but a model that's colored like a marshmallow and sits up straight.

It's a police bike. Honda, Harley, Kawi or Beemer, it doesn't matter. If it's badged and holstered, it's going to cause most drivers to take heed...

Read the full article in the LA Times

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High-speed Flat Track motorcycle racing will return for the first time in four years at Don Kazarian's famous Perris Auto Speedway (PAS) on Saturday, June 14. Gates open at 4. Heart-pounding five-class racing begins at 7 on the quarter-mile clay oval.

Presented by the SoCal Harley-Davidson Dealers Association, the event will feature American Motorcycle Association (AMA) professional racing put on

Read C.J. “Sparkplug" Stewart's full article about the return of Flat Track motorcycle racing in the Valley News

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ORK, Pa. — Harley Davidson says it is laying off an unspecified number of employees in York County next week.

The motorcycle maker says the temporary layoff is in addition to a June 30-through-July 3 shutdown at the...

Read the full article in The Tribune-Democrat

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This year's pirate themed bike rally is to include the thrill and excitement of fireworks and incredible "flame cannons" with the attractions of the Ohio Women Rider's Symposium (featuring the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum's "Women in Motorcycling" display), antique bike displays, bike shows, poker runs, Jay Allen's Broken Spoke Saloon, an AMA Dirt Track Race and the AHDRA Drag Racing Nationals.

This annual event features daily live entertainment, vendors and many more shows and attractions. This week includes activities planned around not only Sandusky and its tourist attractions; but the five county region surrounding the area, including Kelleys and Put-in-Bay Islands...

Read the full announcement at The Beacon

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The sound of thunder —Rolling Thunder — could be heard in Dumfries on Sunday morning as nearly 3,000 motorcyclists revved their engines on U.S. 1 near East Coast Harley for the annual Ride to the Wall.

The event, in its 21st year, honors the nation’s veterans and helps to raise awareness of prisoners of war and those missing in action, according to organizers. It also advocated for the fair treatment of veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“It’s beautiful,” said Dumfries resident Heather Tucci as she balanced daughter, Jenna, 6, on her shoulders so she could get a better look at the bikes as made their way down U.S....

Read the full article by Julia Ledoux at Inside Nova.com

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