Keith Wandell has been named Harley-Davidson's new President and CEO, taking the place of James Ziemer. Wendell joins The Motor Company by way of fellow Milwaukee-based automotive supplier Johnson Controls, where he'll remain in his current role as President and COO until the end of April. Financial news institutions seem generally pleased with the appointment, which is good since H-D's currently experiencing some of the worst market conditions in its 106-year history. Somewhat shockingly, Wandell does not currently own a motorcycle, a fact we're certain will be quickly rectified.

Also starting on May 1 will be Enrico D'Onofrio, who will take the reigns at MV Agusta, the Italian motorcycle maker that was recently purchased by Harley-Davidson. D'Onofrio had previously held the role of CFO at cross-town rival Ducati – which definitely sounds promising – and will take over for Matthew Levatich, who will now serve as COO at H-D. Quite the management shake-up, no? Mind-numbingly boring press release after the break.

Those looking for a little extra peace of mind before purchasing their next automobile now have competing programs from Hyundai, General Motors and Ford that all offer some sort of payment-protection should you lose your job. Hyundai even promises to take back your vehicle if you find yourself unable to fine suitable new employment. But what if your desired form of transportation has fewer than four wheels?

Enter Starved Rock Harley-Davidson/Buell in Illinois, the first motorcycle dealership to offer such an incentive plan that we're aware of. The program, provided by WALKAWAY USA, lasts for the first 12 months for free, and after that additional coverage can be purchased that will allow the rider to "walk away" from the loan. Of course, there is plenty of fine print to go over, so be sure to check out the press release after the break if you're interested in knowing more.



[Source: Starved Rock Harley-Davidson/Buell]

Flush from the news that its F-150 pickup performed markedly better than many of its primary competitors in a new series of IIHS side-impact crash tests, Ford has rolled out its latest larger-than-life Harley-Davidson model.

Outside of the appearance items, the HD is essentially a Platinum Edition F-Series in motorcycle leathers, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Available in either Lava (dark maroon) or Tuxedo Black, the Harley looks very aggressive in the metal – and the effect is not just a function of scale. The bold six-bar grille and 22-inch Harley-branded polished/painted alloys clearly set it apart as a distinct model from other F-Series pickups, and Ford has also slathered the pickup in oversized emblems and strange red "swoosh" marks on the rocker panels. While we could do without the latter flourishes, the truck still strikes us as particularly good-looking in Lava.

Ford's 14th Harley-branded product also has a seriously dolled-up interior that is likewise not for introverts. The prevailing theme behind the cabin's styling is that of a Harley biker jacket, and the materials, color choices, and the gigantic badges on the seats and center console (including a serialized plate) are unsubtle but appropriate.

Clearly not a truck for wallflowers, Ford continues to carve out niche after niche for its new 2010 F-150. Click on the gallery below for in-person shots of the new HD F-150, and then click here for more details.


Photos copyright ©2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

Harley-Davidson has announced that Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway group will invest $300 million in the motorcycle maker by through a purchasee of senior unsecured notes that will mature in 2014. These funds match a similar investment by Davis Selected Advisers, L.P., which is already the largest holder of company stock. Harley-Davidson will use the money to bolster its lending services, hopefully making it easier for the trouble motorcycle maker to lend cash to consumers. Berkshire Hathaway will reportedly receive a hefty 15% annual interest rate on the investment.

The markets have responded to the news rather favorably, with H-D shares hitting $13.56 in trading yesterday afternoon – a 14% increase from where they started the day. Just about a week ago, H-D announced a plan to shed 10% of its workforce. This move marks the first time that Buffet has ever invested in the company.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Sales of Harley-Davidson's line of Big Twin motorcycles have taken an unfortunate nosedive as of late, a fact directly attributable to the current recession here in the United States. Most new motorcycles, especially those costing as much as some small cars, are discretionary purchases, so HD is understandably working hard on new models with a lower price point, the latest of which is the Iron 883. This new bike enters HD's Dark Custom series and is therefore completely blacked-out. Available colors are Black Denim and Brilliant Silver Denim, both of which feature a distinctive matte finish that's perfect for their design ethos.

This new steed is based on the entry-level Sportster platform and starts at $7,899, which is a full $2,000 cheaper than its larger sibling, the Nightster 1200. The two Sportsers share the same basic design, including a slammed suspension complete with front fork gaiters, solo saddle and foldaway side-mounted license plate holder. The main difference between the two machines lies in the displacement of the fuel-injected V-twin engine, with the new Iron making use of the smaller 883cc jugs, and in the use of 13-spoke wheels on the Iron 883 in lieu of laced rims. It's definitely an attractive machine and we think it should do pretty well with its relatively low base price and guaranteed trade-in value.


[Source: Harley-Davidson]

Harley-Davidson is a company that has seen plenty of ups and downs over its 106-year history, having survived the Great Depression after being the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world through the 1920s. We may not quite be in another depression, but our current recession has caused sales, profits and share prices to fall fast and Harley is digging in for the long haul, announcing a plan to cut 1,100 jobs over the next two years. That figure that represents 10% of the company's entire workforce. More than half of those losses will be seen in the company's home state of Wisconsin, with the remainder coming from facilities in York, Pennsylvania, and Kansas City, Missouri. During the course of this restructuring, the Motor Company will also be replacing Jim Ziemer, the company's current chief executive. Sounds like a tough road ahead.

[Source: AP via Google]

It's a tough time to be selling any kind of vehicle in the United States, including motorcycles. Harley-Davidson has been hit just as hard as anybody else, and it's the more expensive line of bikes taking the brunt of this sales slowdown. The Motor Company's Sportster line is still selling fairly well, with its relatively attractive price and fuel efficiency conspiring to keep the V-Twins moving off the showroom floor. HD must really want to capitalize on those sales, as it's just announced a unique incentive to purchase a new Sportster, or alternatively to trade in your recently purchased model.

All 2008 and 2009 Sportsters will be sold with a guarantee that HD will offer the full MSRP of the bike when it comes time to trade up to a Big Twin (aka, non-Sportster) or VRSC model. Already ridden off the showroom floor? No problem, all previously sold 2007-and-newer models get the same deal. Fine print? Of course: XR1200 sales don't count; participating dealers only; offer valid between Dec. 26, 2008 and Mar. 31, 2009. Doesn't sound like too bad a deal for those already in the market.


[Source: Harley-Davidson]

We haven't yet gotten any official word from Harley-Davidson regarding the imminent U.S. launch of its XR1200, a thoroughly modern take on the old XR750 made famous on various dirt tracks across the United States. Oddly, despite this profound racing heritage in America, HD at first decided to send the revived XR to European dealerships only while suggesting that the U.S. may also get the bike at some point if demand proved strong. It seems that enough Americans were interested for the company to investigate its home market further, as rumors now indicate that an initial run of 750 XRs are being set aside for U.S. consumption. If you want one of these first XRs, you'll need to have your order in by December 15.

We have not been able to confirm this launch with the powers-that-be at HD, but at least one dealership in Westminster California is taking deposits for orange XR1200s with a price of $11,179 and a due date before the end of the year. Black and silver models will apparently be made available early next year. We made a quick call to Westminster Harley-Davidson and got confirmation that an email was sent just yesterday informing dealers of the news. Still, until we see an official announcement from Harley, which certainly wouldn't be entirely unexpected, this one's not quite officially official. Stay tuned... we may finally get the chance to ride the Sportster as God and Mr. Davidson himself intended.


[Source: Chopper Daves]

Harley-Davidson introduced its first official trike in years earlier in 2008 and now looks to flip things around a bit with a new reverse-trike that leans into corners. Rumors indicate that the huge American Motor Company will bring the corner carving trike in concept form to a motorcycle show set to take place next month in Cologne, Germany. If that debut indeed takes place, the machine is likely to be powered by the liquid-cooled Revolution V-Twin engine from the Rod series as opposed to the 45-degree air-cooled mill powering most of its bikes. We've known that the company has been working on this design for the past few years, filing patent drawings way back in 2006. The market is definitely ready for it now that Piaggio and Can Am have toed the waters. We look forward to seeing just how accurate these rumors prove to be next month. Thanks for the tip, Moose!


[Source: Wired]

Today Ford added two new co-branded models to its F-Series Super Duty line-up, the F-450 Harley-Davidson and FX-4 Cabela edition. The 2009 HD model continues a long tradition of collaboration between the Blue Oval and builder of hogs, but is the first time this co-branding has been applied to the mightiest of F-Series pickups, the F-450. It comes with a blue-flame paint job that's carried through into the interior on the gauges. And, of course, it wouldn't be a Harley-Davidson edition F-Series if there weren't a plethora of commemorative badges on the truck to remind you.



For those looking for a truck that is perhaps a bit more mild, Ford offers the Cabela edition FX-4. Cabela is an outdoor retailer that appeals to hunting and fishing types, so this co-branding deal puts Ford right in front of their faces. The Cabela edition FX-4 gets a two-tone paint scheme that can be ordered up in a number of colors, cloth seats, dark Paldeo wood trim and lockable storage units to hide your hunting rifle, fishing pole or whatever.

Ford has also announced the availability of new options for the Super Duty line like a spray-in bedliner called Tough Bed, SYNC, voice-activated nav system with SIRIUS Travel Link, and the Ford Work Solutions package.