2008 Harley-Davidson

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Exclusive: The other Trike from Harley-Davidson - The 2-1

The 2-1 Trike, as H-D calls it, was a no show at the Intermot despite what my source told me first. Harley-Davidson was not the only manufacturer that changed its mind regarding the Intermot show. Also KTM decided to show all its 2009 models at the EICMA show rather than in Germany. Whether Harley-Davidson will show us its 3-wheeled secret or not in 2008 remain to see though.

But despite this, we know a lot more now about how the 2-1 Trike looks like due to new exclusive information. A senior figure at Milwaukee had planned to ride this 2-1 Trike earlier this year at the 105^th anniversary “Ride Home” event. Someone even more senior to him decided against it though to avoid confusing domestic dealers and customers that had just tried the Tri-Glide. The prototypes that existed at that point in time (this summer) was called Gen4 and Gen5. Previous prototypes have all been painted black with chromed parts, but are very true to the patent-drawings. The latest prototype, we assume it is called Generation 6, have recently been through H-D’s design department for a new paint job. This paint job is pretty much the same as the 2007 V-Rod in orange and silver with Screamin’ Eagle logo on the tank. Despite the fact that this makes it even more likely to think that the concept should be powered by the Revolution engine, it’s not on the paper yet. The current engine used in the prototype is the 103 c.i. Big Twin, but H-D has also tried the 110 from the CVO models for good measures. The odd leaning Trike has been under development for more than 5 years now. So if you see an oddball motorbike with a long orange snoot, two wheels at the front and Screamin’ Eagle on the tank it’s Harley’s latest addition to the growing segment of 3-wheeled motorcycles. By Tor Sagen

MV Agusta and Harley-Davidson announced today that H-D have struck a deal to buy 100% of the MV Agusta Group shares. Claudio Castiglioni owns 95% at present and will act as the chairman and in an R&D role after the acquisition. The purchase is worth 70 million Euro that will cover the 45 Million Euro debt. As you can see from our choice of pictures to illustrate this, the optimism in both companies are now at a very high level! With this deal struck, expect MV Agusta to spearhead some spectacular racing activities in the future too. At the end some thoughts: What happens to Buell now? Hopefully Harley-Davidson will do a better job with MV than TPG did with Ducati... More on this later including a exclusive interview with Claudio Castiglioni. Tor Sagen

Harley-Davidson FLSTBS Softail Cross Bones

Not exactly Harley-Davidson and the Marlboro man this as we are talking about a book for teenagers. However, on the book cover yours truly appears and one of the not so PC piccies features a Marlboro man indeed. Since Bill Davidson and I appear on the front cover of this third book in the series I have forced myself to read the first two. It's like a "Da Vinci code" for teenagers and a bit insulting if you are intellectual enough. But apparently, Alfred Kropp is the most read teenage hero in the US now next to Harry Potter. For us motorcycle fans I can reveal that the first novel, The Extraordinary adventures of Alfred Kropp, features bad guys on Suzuki Hayabusa's. The third novel (The Thirteenth Skull) with our shots of the Harley-Davidson Night Rod Special naturally features some big bad Night Rod's. For the occasion, I have added the full review and new pictures here. Enjoy! TS

2008 Harley-Davidson FXCV Softail Rocker   2008 Harley-Davidson CVO FLHTCUSE³ Screamin’ Eagle Ultra Classic Electra Glide   2008 Harley-Davidson FXDF Dyna Fat Bob

Now that we have had the opportunity to test both the 2008 Buell 1125R (Laguna Seca) and 2008 Ducati 1098R (Jerez) there are two super twins left. We are talking about the 2008 KTM RC8 1190 (Ascari) and the 2008 Bimota DB7 1098 (Misano). The wait for the RC8 is very short now and we will ride it both on track and road at the end of this month. For the Bimota DB7 the wait is a little bit longer. In May we will get to test the first production version of the DB7. Currently the only running prototype have been disassembled for production purposes. As with all Bimota's, the DB7 will only get a limited launch. And we'll be there. TS

2008 Ducati 1098R test   2008 Buell 1125R test   2008 KTM RC8 1190 test   2008 Bimota DB7 1098 test

Tokyo Motor Show 2007   Paris Motorcycle Show 2007   NEC Birmingham 2007   EICMA Milan 2007   Raptors & Rockets motorcycle club   Raptors & Rockets at Myspace  Raptors & Rockets on YouTube  2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed   Stunt School   Motorcycle Olympics   Daytona Bike Week 2007   Cycle World International Motorcycle show Long Beach   INTERMOT   NEC Birmingham   EICMA Milan   2007 Aprilia   2008 Aprilia   2007 Benelli  2008 Benelli  2007 BMW   2008 BMW   2008 Buell   2007 Ducati  2008 Ducati   2007 Harley-Davidson  2008 Harley-Davidson   2007 Honda   2008 Honda   2007 Husqvarna   2007 Kawasaki   2008 Kawasaki  2007 KTM   2008 KTM   2008 Moto Guzzi   2007 MV Agusta & Cagiva  2008 MV Agusta & Cagiva   2007 Suzuki   2008 Suzuki   2007 Triumph   2008 Triumph   2007 Victory   2008 Victory   2007 Yamaha  2008 Yamaha  Black Metal

Harley-Davidson have just finished launching the new Rockers, Fat Bob, Euro version of the Sportster Nightster and 2008 CVO/105th Anniversary models in New York City. We have just received the last few pictures from the launch that we attended last week. Below are links to extensive picture galleries from the launch and the Rocker and Rocker C full test inspired by the late Bon Scott from AC/DC. Watch the film, read the test, try the bike at your dealers. We really enjoyed riding the Rockers in the big apple and we're sure you will too. TS

2008 Harley-Davidson FXCWC Softail Rocker C   2008 Harley-Davidson FXCW Softail Rocker   2008 Harley-Davidson FXDF Dyna Fat Bob   2008 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200N Nightster European version   2008 Harley-Davidson 105th anniversary models

I am sitting in a hotel room in York, Pennsylvania after a cool ride from NYC through lower Manhattan on Harley's new Rocker, Fat Bob and a host of CVO and 105th Anniversary models. The CVO's are a treat for the eyes and with the new 110ci V-twin they are pretty cool to ride too. Luckily we were not riding when that gas pipe exploded further downtown from the Hudson hotel. The ride: Via Central Park, past Times Square and all the way down to the Brooklyn Bridge followed by a photo shoot. Then we rode the new Harleys past Ground Zero, Holland tunnel, Ellis Island and then motorways and B-roads to York in Pennsylvania where I today visited the Softail assembly line. Soon we will tell you more about the two Rockers, Fat Bob and CVO models. Videos will also start appearing next week. Check back as there will be several updates from NYC. Much more coming... TS

Harley-Davidson is overwhelming us with news today. So you might have been wondering what happened to the XR1200 prototype that Harley showed us in an exclusive press conference in Cologne last year. The model has now received the green light from Bill Davidson and his crew for production. . “The incredibly positive reaction we received to the XR 1200 Prototype and sustained level of anticipation amongst customers and the press across Europe confirmed how much interest there is in a Harley-Davidson motorcycle inspired by our racing line” said Davidson, Director of Motorcycle Product Development. At this point of time we do not know when we actually get to ride the XR1200, but sometime this autumn now sounds likely. TS

New colours on 08 Street Bob

Take one 2007 Triumph Bonneville America and add our very own Billy Bob Leyfield into the equation and you get an interesting mix. Apart from the Suzuki 2008 news this last week has been all about America. So we thought we'd add an English motorcycle made in tribute to American consumers to all this. Triumph's whole Classic range will get upgraded fuel injection to replace the current carbs this Autumn so the America is one of the very last new carburettor motorcycles we will ride. The video below is a celebration to America and for good measures we've added another video showing the Triumph America with the Harley-Davidson XL1200R Sportster as well. TS

Harley-Davidson XL1200N Nightster   Moto Guzzi California Vintage   Triumph Bonneville T100   Triumph Thruxton 900   Triumph Scrambler 900

New! 2007 Goodwood Festival of Speed   Stunt School   Motorcycle Olympics   Daytona Bike Week 2007   Cycle World International Motorcycle show Long Beach   INTERMOT   NEC Birmingham   EICMA Milan   2007 Aprilia   2008 Aprilia   2007 Benelli   2007 BMW   2008 BMW   2008 Buell   2007 Ducati   2007 Harley-Davidson   2007 Honda   2007 Husqvarna   2007 Kawasaki   2007 KTM   2008 KTM   2008 Moto Guzzi   2007 MV Agusta & Cagiva   2007 Suzuki   2008 Suzuki   2007 Triumph   2008 Triumph   2007 Victory   2008 Victory   2007 Yamaha  2008 Yamaha  Black Metal

What's your weekend plans? We fly out to Denmark today (Friday 20th) to meet up with Craig Jones to get some stunt tuition on the most unlikely bikes (Harley-Davidson Ultra anyone?) and Buell.

I also asked Jones whether it is possible to stoppie on a V-rod. It's virtually impossible to even do a wheelie, but Craig's already done that by transforming all his weight to the back of the modified V-rod he uses. A stoppie is impossible even Craig admitted, but he's working on a couple of Harley's now to make his stunts easier. 

Read about the all new XL1200N Nightster here. We rode the new motorcycle during the 2007 Daytona Beach Bike week and thoroughly enjoyed the latest Sporty!

Nightster tested!   Daytona Bike Week

2008 Harley-Davidson XL1200N Nightster!

Harley-Davidson have just released information from the Winter dealers meeting in Florida of a new XL Sportster model called XL1200N Nightster