Aug. 11, 2008 – Motorcycle Digest

Lehman Trikes to Work With Harley on its Tri Glide

Harley-Davidson Motor Co. unveiled the Tri Glide motorcycle to its dealer network during its recent dealer meeting in Las Vegas. At the same time, Lehman Trikes’ involvement in the Tri Glide also was announced.
The bike conversion will happen at Lehman Trikes’ Spearfish, S.D., facility.
Harley-Davidson Tri Glide motorcycle production represents the fruition of the existing supplier agreement, which was originally announced in September of 2006.
Trikes will provide components, paint, and conversion services in the manufacture of the Tri Glide trike.
“Lehman is proud to have been selected as a supplier to Harley-Davidson,”?said Dan Patterson, CEO of Lehman Trikes. “Harley-Davidson is a great mentor for our development and we are pleased to be associated with them. Tri Glide’s introduction into the trike market provides greater legitimacy to this segment of the motorcycle industry.”

Harley-Davidson Museum Opens to Public

The general public was able to see all 105 years of Harley-Davidson’s history at the company’s new museum on Saturday, July 12, in Milwaukee, Wis., according to a Harley-Davidson press release.
The two-story museum has a collection of 450 motorcycles along with exhibits. It will also feature the room where the first Harley-Davidson was made, a virtual simulation of a ride on a historic motorcycle, as well as Evel Knievel and Elvis Presley’s Harley-Davidsons.
Jim Fricke, the curatorial director of the museum, says they expect a strong showing of Harley-Davidson fans as they anticipate about 350,000 visitors a year.
“We know that this place is going to be a Mecca for Harley-Davidson enthusiasts and motorcycling fans,” Fricke said. “But I think we were successful in taking all of these amazing resources and stories and creating something that literally anyone who walks through the door could find something engaging here.”

Northeastern Motorcycle Tours Looks to Sell

Northeastern Motorcycle Tours (NMT),?a luxury motorcycle touring company, announced it’s for sale. Company founder Sean Reid says it will be a gradual solution, and he plans to be involved until the company is running smoothly under new ownership.
“I’ll co-lead tours with the new owner for the first year and possibly beyond,” he said in the release. “Even after that, I’ll be available to advise and help. I’m going to be very selective about finding the right person to take over this company because it’s important to me that the reputation NMT has built during the last 12 years be preserved and expanded.
“To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time a well-established American motorcycle touring company has come up for sale. We have a lot of repeat clients, and I want to be sure that their expectations continue to be exceeded during and after this transition. Consistency in quality is very important to me, and I’ll keep looking until I find someone who’s really a good match for the company.”

Ducati Hires New Regional Business Manager

Ducati North America announced the appointment of a new south central regional business manager, stated the company in its press release. Jeff Brooks, former general manager of Ducati Austin, will begin with Ducati North America July 14.
Brooks is familiar with the brand and its products and will oversee the growth in the south central market. During his time in Austin, Brooks helped Ducati establish a significant presence in Texas.

Piaggio Recalls Moto Guzzi Norge, Aprilia Tuono Models

In cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Piaggio USA voluntarily recalled a combined 1,623 Moto Guzzi Norge and Aprilia Tuono motorcycles because of fuel pump and electrical defects, according to the NHTSA.
The company recalled nearly 1,000 model years 2005-2007 Aprilia Tuono 1000 R and RSV 1000. Piaggio USA also recalled more than 600 model years 2007-2008 Moto Guzzi Norge motorcycles. A defective fuel hose connection might cause Aprilia Tuono models to stall, increasing the risk of injury or death to the rider. A wiring malfunction in Moto Guzzi models might cause the motorcycle’s main fuse to blow, creating a loss of electrical power and also causing the engine to stall. psb