Harley-Davidson believes every motorcycle it sells can be a custom of one. Harley-Davidson H-D1™ is a comprehensive offering of customization tools for the Harley-Davidson® motorcycle owner. H-D1 tools include Harley-Davidson® Genuine Motor Accessories listings in print and on-line catalogs, Fit Shop and consultation services at Harley-Davidson dealerships, and factory customization and Bike Builder tools on harley-davidson.com. H-D1 offers almost unlimited opportunities to optimize fit, function, style and performance and turn a Harley into a motorcycle that is truly personalized to its owner.

Harley-Davidson heads into 2012 with 32 models, each born of experience that spans generations and a passion for riding that will never diminish.

Highlights of the 2012 Harley-Davidson line include:

• The Twin Cam 103™ engine powers all 2012 Dyna®, Softail® and Touring models with the exception of the Dyna Street Bob® and Dyna Super Glide® Custom. This engine produces up to 100 ft lbs. peak torque, an increase of approximately 6 percent over the Twin Cam 96™ engine it replaces as standard power for many of these models. The Twin Cam 103 is equipped with automatic compression release. It features identifying badges on the derby cover, timer cover and air cleaner trim ring.
• A Security Package that pairs Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Smart Security System with proximity-based, hands-free security fob is available for all 2012 V-Rod®, Dyna®, Softail®, Touring and CVO™ models. The Security Package is standard equipment on CVO™ models and on the Road Glide® Ultra, the Electra Glide® Ultra Limited, and the Road King® Classic. The Security Package is a factory-installed option for all other models.
• The Night Rod® Special is updated with new tapered tail section, lighter-weight wheels, an inverted front fork and improved ergonomics. Harley-Davidson celebrates a decade of power cruising with the V-Rod® 10th Anniversary Edition motorcycle, finished in Brilliant Silver Pearl bodywork that evokes the anodized aluminum bodywork of the original V-Rod model that introduced the liquid-cooled Revolution V-Twin engine in 2002. All V-Rod models will carry V-Rod 10th Anniversary badges.
• The new Dyna® Switchback combines hard saddlebags and a windshield with the eager handling and Twin Cam 103 performance of the Dyna chassis. It’s a custom-touring bike ready for a long weekend trip, until the detachable bags and windshield are removed. Then in seconds the Switchback becomes a custom street cruiser with a gleaming headlamp nacelle, five-spoke cast-aluminum wheels and a mini-ape handlebar. This  convertible concept makes the versatile Switchback two motorcycles in one.
• All Harley-Davidson® Softail® models get the performance boost of the Twin Cam 103 engine for 2012. The Fat Boy® and Fat Boy® Lo have a new reduced-reach handlebar for more-comfortable ergonomics. A lower, narrower seat shape places the Fat Boy rider in a new “in the bike” position. The Softail® Deluxe and Heritage Softail® Classic will be available with a new optional “tubeless” Chrome Aluminum Profile Laced wheel option for ease of tire replacement and repair.
• The Twin Cam 103™ powertrain gives all Harley-Davidson® Touring models assertive power for passing. On Touring models, the Twin Cam 103 is equipped with an oil cooler. All Touring models except the Ultra Limited will offer a new “tubeless” Chrome Aluminum Profile Laced wheel option.
• The Harley-Davidson Sportster® line appeals to a broad range of riders with six 2012 models ranging from the race-inspired XR1200X™ to the accessible SuperLow® to Dark Custom roadsters like the Iron 883™, Nightster® and Forty-Eight®. The Sportster® 1200 Custom can be personalized for fit, function and style with H-D1™ factory customization, a process that allows customers to use the Bike Builder tool on harley-davidson.com to build the motorcycle from a selection of options that are installed as the bike is assembled by Harley-Davidson Motor Company or are installed by a dealer after the motorcycle is delivered. New 1200 Custom color options have been added to Bike Builder for 2012.
• The new CVO™ Road Glide® Custom is one of four limited-production 2012 models from Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO)™, each turned out with bold paint, gleaming chrome, and the most-powerful V-Twin engines offered in production Harley-Davidson motorcycles. CVO Road Glide Custom is a hot-rod bagger with a frame-mounted fairing topped with a smoked Wind Splitter windshield, a high-output, amplified Harman/Kardon® Advanced Audio system, and a color-matched, low-profile fuel tank console.

Source Harley-Davidson Motor Company

Harley-Davidson will select four women to win the “Ultimate Learn-To-Ride Experience,” a prize package that includes a brand new 2012 Harley-Davidson motorcycle that they can design themselves via Harley-Davidson’s new H-D1™ factory customization system, as well as $1,000 in new Harley-Davidson MotorClothes apparel. In addition, the four winners can each pick a friend to accompany them on an all-expense-paid trip to Milwaukee, Wis., home of Harley-Davidson, where they will learn to ride a motorcycle through Harley-Davidson’s Riders Edge New Rider Course and explore Harley-Davidson’s home turf including tours of the Harley-Davidson Museum and Powertrain Operations. Women can enter the contest at www.h-d.com/mytime.

“We’re excited to help inspire more women to fulfill their dream of learning to ride a Harley-Davidson motorcycle,” said Claudia Garber, Director of Marketing Outreach at Harley-Davidson. “The ‘Ultimate Learn-To-Ride Experience’ contest is one aspect of many exciting things Harley-Davidson is doing to encourage more women to get started on their riding journeys.”

The “Ultimate Learn-To-Ride Experience” contest runs through July 20, 2011. For more information about the contest and to enter to win, visit www.h-d.com/mytime.

Source Harley-Davidson Motor Company

• Over half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle.  Most of the time, the motorist, not the motorcyclist, is at fault.  There are a lot more cars and trucks than motorcycles on the road; and some drivers don’t “recognize” a motorcycle; they ignore it (usually unintentionally).
• Because of its small size, a motorcycle can be easily hidden in a car’s blind spots (door/roof pillars) or masked by objects or backgrounds outside a car (bushes, fences, bridges, etc). Take an extra moment to look for motorcycles, whether you’re changing lanes or turning at intersections.
• Because of its small size, a motorcycle may look farther away than it is. It may also be difficult to judge a motorcycle’s speed. When checking traffic to turn at an intersection or into (or out of) a driveway, predict a motorcycle is closer than it looks
• Motorcyclists often slow by downshifting or merely rolling off the throttle, thus not activating the brake light. Allow more following distance, say 3 or 4 seconds. At intersections, predict a motorcyclist may slow down without visual warning.
• Motorcyclists often adjust position within a lane to be seen more easily and to minimize the effects of road debris, passing vehicles, and wind. Understand that motorcyclists adjust lane position for a purpose, not to be reckless or show off or to allow you to share the lane with them.
• Turn signals on a motorcycle usually are not self-canceling, thus some riders (especially beginners) sometimes forget to turn them off after a turn or lane change. Make sure a motorcycle’s signal is for real.
• Maneuverability is one of a motorcycle’s better characteristics, especially at slower speeds and with good road conditions, but don’t expect a motorcyclist to always be able to dodge out of the way.
• Stopping distance for motorcycles is nearly the same as for cars, but slippery pavement makes stopping quickly difficult. Allow more following distance behind a motorcycle because it can’t always stop “on a dime.”
• When a motorcycle is in motion, see more than the motorcycle – see the person under the helmet, who could be your friend, neighbor, or relative.

Over the weekend, a 28 year old man was killed in a vehicle/motorcycle accident here.  He happened to be someone I knew and a close friend of many people that I know.  This safety awareness is dedicated to his memory, along with anyone else who has lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident.

While Americans will see thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from all walks of life behind the handlebars this week on our highways and byways – they might be surprised to see a growing number of women in the saddle of their own motorcycles.  Women now account for 23 percent of all U.S. motorcyclists, as well as about 12 percent of new motorcycle sales for Harley-Davidson.

To celebrate women who have already accepted the calling of the open road, as well as to inspire even more women to participate in the sport, Harley-Davidson and its nationwide dealership network are staging a series of initiatives over the next several months including Garage Parties, Women Riders Month in May and the first-ever Biker Boot Camp for Women.

“We’re very proud of the efforts we’ve made as a company to pave the way for even more women to turn their dreams of riding into reality,” said Karen Davidson, great-granddaughter of Harley-Davidson co-founder William A. Davidson and Creative Director, General Merchandise, Harley-Davidson. “But we know there are still thousands of women out there who dream of riding their own motorcycles, which is why we’re committed to inspiring them to take the first step, as well as providing them with the necessary tools and support they need.”

Daytona Bike Week activities take place through March 12. Activities for women include demo rides and interactive motorcycle displays at Daytona International Speedway, as well as a women’s area featuring bike lift seminars and Jumpstart at Riverfront Park on Beach Street. Women riders also hit the road for a good cause this morning (Tuesday, March 8), during the Women’s MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) Ride.  Karen Davidson led more than hundred female riders from Riverfront Park to Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson to support those affected by neuromuscular disease.  

Since 2005, local Harley-Davidson dealerships have hosted women only Garage Parties, which provide a fun and engaging environment for women to learn about the sport of motorcycling.  These free events are designed to be both fun and educational, covering topics such as a review of the basic motorcycle controls, how to customize a motorcycle’s style and ergonomics, and how to gear up for a ride. Garage Party event attendees are organized into small groups, getting their first taste of the camaraderie that goes along with riding.  

Groups will visit four informational stations, including motorcycle orientation, motorclothes gear, motorcycle fit and function and bike lift. Between stations, women get the chance to interact with each other, as well as hear from women who are already living their motorcycle dreams.

This May marks the 3rd Annual Women Riders Month, which celebrates women who already ride, as well as inspires other women to grab life by the handlebars.  Dealerships around the country will hold events throughout the month, including a series of organized women-only rides on Saturday, May 14.

During Women Riders Month, the Motor Company also plans to stage the first-ever Biker Boot Camp for Women at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee.  The special camp is designed to take women’s dreams of riding to reality by immersing them in the culture of Harley-Davidson, participating in the Rider’s Edge New Rider Training Course and celebrating with other new women riders.

Harley-Davidson has created a robust section of their Web site specifically for women riders (www.harley-davidson.com/womenriders).  The site features information including stories from other women riders, as well as Harley-Davidson’s Roadmap to Riding, which offers a series of milestones featuring the tips, advice and confidence women need to turn their riding dream into reality.  The site also includes a calendar of women events scheduled throughout the country.

Source Harley-Davidson Motor Company

As most riders know, it’s simply an unwritten rule to stop for those in distress. Of course, rider ethics go well beyond the open road, as motorcyclists often stop on the journey of life to help those in need – rider and non-rider alike.  It’s with that in mind that Harley-Davidson has introduced a new clothing line designed especially to aid those who have been affected by breast cancer.

The new Harley-Davidson Pink Label Collection – inspired by women who have been affected by breast cancer and which has been designed to provide those women support during their difficult ride – shares a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every Pink Label Collection item to help fund the YourShoes 24/7 Support Center, which is administered by the national non-profit Breast Cancer Network of Strength. The YourShoes center, which helped about 50,000 people in 2008, is staffed by breast cancer survivors who provide immediate emotional relief, at any time of day, to people affected by breast cancer.

According to Kathy Whalen, who is the Category Manager of General Merchandise for Harley-Davidson, the Pink Label Collection was conceived and designed by the Harley-Davidson Women’s MotorClothes Product Development and Design team.  She says they were inspired to create the Pink Label Collection by the countless women riders and passengers that they’ve encountered on the open road, as well as at events, who’ve been impacted by breast cancer:

“We wanted to create something that honored their personal journey, as well as let them know that they never have to ride alone.”

The Pink Label Collection is comprised of 12 of the most popular women’s MotorClothes designs (each featuring a tasteful touch of pink), including jackets, pants, gloves, helmet, eyewear and shirts, including:

• The Pink Label Leather Jacket
• The Pink Label Hoodie
• The Pink Label Pant
• Pink Label Tee’s
• Pink Label Headwraps

To find out more about the Pink Label Collection, or to purchase items from the collection, visit your local Harley-Davidson dealership or go to www.harley-davidson.com/pinklabel.