Autoblog

Click on the image for more shots of Indiana's Harley-Davidson

It seems that the marketing folks at Harley-Davidson have managed to get a bit of product placement for themselves, following the likes of Audi with Iron Man, Volkswagen with The Bourne Ultimatum and GM with Transformers. The new Indiana Jones movie, titled 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull' features both Harrison Ford and Shia The Le Beouf riding what appears at first glance to be an old Harley. Upon closer inspection, the bike is actually a new model, complete with fuel injection and Harley's new six-speed transmission. The movie-crew manages to make the bike look much older by using parts from older machines, such as the old Sportster tank and pre-war "beehive" tail light. Look real close and you may even notice the fake kick-starter which must just be welded to the frame.

As a celebration of the upcoming movie's use of the bike, every Harley dealership will reportedly get the chance to order 30 pairs of free tickets to the movie to be given away as a promotion to customers.


[Source: Cyril Huze Blog, Harrison Ford Web]

Few motorcycle companies today can truly draw on past styles and trends when releasing new versions of their bikes like Harley-Davidson. Japan, Inc. has a few retro-styled bikes and Triumph has reinvented the British bike, but Harley-Davidson may be the only company in motorcycling that can replicate old styles so effortlessly because its own parts bin offers so many unique pieces from which to choose. Take, for instance, the new FLSTSB Cross Bones, which uses the venerable softail frame and adds Harley's own springer front end, bobbed rear fender, ape-hanger bars, tractor-style single seat, floorboards and a horseshoe oil tank. Special touches are then added, such as the hand-laced leather tank panel and a new speedometer face. Functional items include the 200 mm rear tire, five gallon fuel tank, fuel injection and a six-speed tranny. Power comes from the TC96B engine, meaning that the bike should have ample, if not overwhelming force.

We like the bobber-style look of this bike and think that it looks great wearing all black. If you want the "cut-down" look of an old bob-job with the reliability of a new model, it's hard to overlook the Motor Company's own FLSTSB Cross Bones.

[Source: Harley-Davidson]

click above image for more high-res pics of the 2008 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson

Seems like it was not that long ago that Ford showed us the 2007 F-150 Harley-Davidson with its new (optional) supercharged 5.4L V8 producing 450 hp. It was even more recent that we had the opportunity to review one for ourselves. Nevertheless, Ford's ready to move on to the 2008 model, which will again be offered with the base 300-hp 5.4L Triton V8 or an optional version supercharged by Saleen producing 450 hp and 500 ft-lbs. of torque.

Next year will mark the 105th anniversary of both Ford and Harley-Davidson, so you can bet this truck is covered with badges commemorating the occasion. The 08 F-150 HD is again available as a SuperCrew 4x2 or with all-wheel drive, and the exterior color choices include the 2007 model's monochromatic black treatment with custom striping or a new "Black and Vintage Copper" two-tone paint job.

Most exterior bits are carried over from last year, except for those new "105th Anniversary Harley-Davidson F-150" badges, as well as a new set of giant 22-inch polished forged-aluminum wheels with Harley's logo on the center caps. Inside, the leather-trimmed seats continue the black and copper color theme and are accented by piano black trim on the center console that frames a repeating pattern of Harley's bar-and-shield logo.

Check out more high-res pics in the gallery below and read the official press release from Ford after the jump.

[Source: Ford, Pickuptruck.com]

For those complaining that the Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson introduced yesterday wasn't suited for real truck duty, here you go. It's the F-250/450 Super Duty version of Ford's cobranding enterprise with Harley-Davidson, and can surely tow a few more bikes behind its bed than the half-ton version. Since this big bruiser from Milwaukee via Dearbon hasn't been officially unveiled yet, we can't tell you any details beyond what the spy pics show. Expect a set of nice chrome wheels, a catchy paint job, and badging, lots of badging. The grille up front gets the same slim bars seen on the F-150 version, as well.

Man, how embarassed would you be rolling up to Sturgis behind the wheel of your 2007 F-150 Harley-Davidson and seeing some Hell's Angels fella bombing around in the Super Duty version? At least the F-150 Harley-Davison can be ordered with a $6,500 SALEEN supercharger/intercooler set up so you can smoke the other guy off the line.

Iconic U.S. bike-builder Harley-Davidson, Inc. (ticker symbol: HOG) announced Friday that it will develop a range of Harley-branded three-wheeled 'trikes.' The company is partnering with South Dakota's Lehman Trikes (the self-proclaimed 'Leader of the Three World') to build Harley trikes based on its motorcycles, like the aftermarket Lehman Renegade touring model shown above. The new trikes will be sold through Harley dealers.

Lehman already builds three-wheeled conversions of Harley-Davidson, Honda and Suzuki bikes, among others.

Looks to us like Harley is covering its bets as its core demographic gets ever older...

[Source: Reuters]