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Harley-Davidson has filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a three-wheeler, styled similarly to Piaggio’s and Can-Am’s Spyder, with two front wheels and one rear wheel and with a leaning suspension system. The application, which also includes Delphi Technologies Inc., was filed Sept. 27, 2006, according to information on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Web site, but it includes a second, date - April, 2007 -that could indicate the time it was made public. Harley officials would not comment on the company’s plans if the application is approved or whether the concept is connected to H-D’s current endeavor with Lehman Trikes.

Manufacturers of custom American muscle, chopper and pro mod motorcycles, announced mid-year model changes and a new custom look on the Gauntlet chopper. Rucker Performance has incorporated new design queues to emphasize its long, lean lines and a more hand formed, custom fabricated look. The Gauntlet features a hand-fabricated drop seat design, providing a low center of gravity and better: handling, stability, comfort and ergonomics for the Rucker Performance customer.

“The Gauntlet has the powerful performance, excellent maneuvering capabilities and sleek design that customers are looking for in a custom chopper said Bill Rucker, founder and CEO of Rucker Performance.
The company has converted the final drive to a 133 tooth belt drive. Boasting a 300 series tire, the Gauntlet has 54 mm inverted forks right side drive, fully Polished 124-cubic-inch I&:S engine and six-speed transmission.
Customer can also add a extreme paint package, selecting from more than 40 colors and ultimate in ultimate in unique graphics. The Gauntlets smooth lines flow through the motorcycle because of our design queues such as the new sheet metal styling and extreme paint package,” said Carl Tynde director of design at Rucker Performance.
Additionally, customers can choose from a variety of custom wheels, controls and exotic seat skins. Buyers can be custom fitted and measured for riding position, foot controls, handle & pull back at the Rucker performance factory.

For more information, log on to www.ruckerperformance.com.

FXCW ROCKER:
MSRP: Black $17,295; color $17,640
DID YOU KNOW? The seat height is just 24.5 inches, one of the lowest seat heights available on the market today.
FEATURES:
•Stretches out on a 36.5-degree fork rake that extends the wheelbase to 69.2 inches.
•Powered by the Twin Cam 96B with fuel injection mated to the 6-speed Cruise Drive transmission, rigid-mounted in a frame that’s color-matched to the body work
•Available in three colors: Vivid Black, Pacific Blue pearl and Crimson Red Sunglo; and in Vivid Black deluxe. Which features pinstripe flames
•Has 240mm-18 rear/90mm-19 front tire and optional security system.

FXDF DYNA FAT BOB:
Black $14,795; color $15,140
DID YOU KNOW? The dual head lamps mounted between polished triple-clamps are a signature Fat Bob element.
FEATURES:
•Powered by a black powder-coated, Twin Cam 96 engine with 92 feet pounds of torque through six-speed Cruise Drive transmission.
•180 mm-16 rear/130 mm-16 front tires.
•5. 1-gallon Fat Bob fuel tank adorned with a new medallion and chrome, low profile fuel tank console.
•Has new braided brake lines and air box cover.
•A new wide Bobtail fender covers the rear tire and the rear Shock absorber springs are concealed with chrome “full metal jacket” covers.

ROCKER C:
MSRP: $19,840
DID YOU KNOW? The industry-first Trick solo seat conceals a passenger pillion and struts that deploy over the rear fender without tools. When someone needs a lift, simply lift the main seat cushion and fold out the pillion on its chrome plated struts.
FEATURES:
•Almost every component that was powder coated is been plated with chrome.
•The Twin Cam 96B power train is finished in Black and Chrome. The tank and both fenders are treated to a flowing flamed pinstripe that contras with the base solid-color metallic paint and cloisonne tank medallions.
•Available in three solid colors with pinstripe flames: Vivid Black Deluxe, Pacific Blue Pearl Deluxe& Crimson Red Sunglo Deluxe.
•Has an optional Smart Security System.

The company behind the ~ American Choppers TV show is launching a production line this summer Orange County Choppers win unveil the lineup of four distinctive models in July. The v-twin company told Power sports Business that it will have an initial dealer network of 12-15 this year, with the intent on growing the number of dealers in 2008.
Dealers will be asked to floor three or more bikes, which will have a MSRP ranging from $29,900-$51,900.
The company says it’s expecting to produce40-60 motorcycles for this range of models this year, with the intent of building 100 or more the following year.

Orange County Choppers says it’s working with a number of established v-twin companies on the new production bikes, including Metzler tire S&S Cycle, All Balls, HH1, Baker transmissions, Primo Belt Drives, Danny Gray and Main street.
The lineup will feature: The Splitback, the line’s flagship, featuring a distinctive, wraparound gas tank that will have a MSRP of $51,900; the Softail, a chopper with a MSRP of $38,900; the Greenie, an old-school bobber with a MSRP of $29,900; and the Web, with a MSRP of $42,9GO.

For more information on the production bike lineup, visit  http://www.orangecountychoppers.com/

In 1993, Erik Buell, a former engineer at Harley-Davidson, designed the Buell motorcycle with sport bike enthusiasts in mind. Today, Buell Motorcycle Co. continues to grow & expand into new international markets.
On May 2, Harley Davidson and future Buell dealership, overseas, held a launch event in Montevideo, Uruguay, where Buell motorcycles were unveiled to potential comers and press in attendance.

Buell decided to enter Uruguay because they saw a potential for the brand in his market, Harley-Davidson officials said in a press release. The manufacturer has reported increased international sales lately, most recently nearly a 17 percent rise in its first-quarter revenue from overseas sales. H-D will release second-quarter results late July.

In 1901 inventor William Harley began designing an engine to attach to a standard bycicle frame. His creative juices were flowing and though the first attempt was unsuccesful he plowed forward with his dream.

Soon Harley began making plans and enlisted his friend Arthur Davidson to create a motor-bicycle. This was the beginning of what is now a motorcycle empire.  The pair completed their first motorized bicycle in 1903 and The Harley-Davidson Company holds 1903 to be the official start of their business.

Their fisrt project wasn’t very strong and even struggled going up reasonable hills. After their first bike William and Arthur began to design a new and improved machine.  They enlisted help from Arthur’s older brother and the motor developer Ole Evenrude.  The new invention was completed in 1904 and they entered it in a race; the first ever Harley-Davidson motorcycle to enter a race. 

In 1905 they started advertising their engind to people who would like to turn their standard pedal bikes into motorized bicycles.  They created these engines in their shed and not many of them were produced that year.

The first Harley-Davidson factory was built in 1906 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is still the home of the motorcycle company today.  In the first year of operation the plant produced 50 motorcycles, and the following year they tripled their production.

In 1913 the original building was destroyed in order to build a bigger newer facility.  The new building took an additional two blocks of space and was heavily reinforced, but would prove to be a solid building.  At this new site production began and motorcycles wer eproduced at an ever increasing number. 

When the US entered WWI Harley began producing motorcycles for the war effort.  All through WWI and WWII motorcycles were used in the military.  It wasn’t until the 1950’s when the company ran into trouble and was eventually sold.  The motocycles during the years of new ownership underwent changeds and they changes were not for the better.

Things were eventually straightend out when the company underwne tnew ownership in 1981.  The company under its new ownership was back on top of the market in a matter of year sna d continues it’s domination of the motorcycle market today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harley-Davidson

When you are in the market to purchase a motorcycle where do you begin?  A motorcycle can be a big investment and you want to make sure you are getting the most for your dollar.  One good place to do some research is with a magazine like Consumer Reports.  The magazine offers unbiased reviews and performance reports. 

One good piece of advice is that if you are in the market for your first bike to go with a used motorcycle.  You will save a bundle by going with a used motorcycle and it will be a good place to start learning about your likes and dislikes.  You will also save your self some more costly repairs from falls in the beginning.

Once you’ve done your research and found out what you are looking for you will need to know how to go about purchasing the motorcycle. There are several places to search for your bike including: auctions, classified ads, dealers, and of course the internet.

Two of the most popular online auctions sites for purchasing a motorcycle are eBay motors and Yahoo Actions.  These can be fun and exciting ways to purchase a bike but be careful, always verify the seller and you will more than likely end up having to go across country to pick up the bike depending upon where the seller lives.

Classified ads in newspapers are another way to purchase your motorcycle.  Newspapers will have a section of classified reserved for motorcycles.  This is a good way to find a bike locally that you can take a look at and even have a mechanic check over.  You can also find classified ads online and motorcycle forums for motorcycle ads, but once again the bike could end up being across country.

If you are looking for a brand new bike you can go to the manufacturer’s website and get the necessary product information.  In many cases you can order your bike to your specifications and have it delivered.

One more way to purchase a motorcycle is to visit dealers.  This is an excellent opportunity to see some bikes and get a feel for the bike that you want.  You can even test drive some of the bikes to see how they ride.  Some dealers will have a good selection of trade-ins and will be able to provide reasonable prices on these older models. 

However, with motorcycles that are in demand you may run up against some problems.  Dealers who are selling motorcycles that are in demand are likely to sell them at a huge mark up.  If you are lucky enough to find a dealer who is not selling his or her bikes at a steep rate, you are likely in for a wait.

Do your homework on pricing and you will do much better when it comes to negotiating a good price for the bike you want.  If you come in to a dealer without some basic knowledge you will be a sitting duck and treated accordingly. 

Purchasing a motorcycle can be a thrilling experience.  If you do some research and prepare for the potential obstacles you will ensure that you get the best bike for your money.

The Harley Davidson motorcycle engine is typically a two cylinders, v-twin.  The engine was originally designed with some flaws and was designed to operate without a distributor to cut down on costs. A Harley-Davidson motorcycle has been revamped over the years but it has retained its V-twin style engine.

Though the design of the engine as initially produced to cut down on the money it took to produce the engine, it inadvertently created one of the most famous aspects of the Harley motorcycle, its sound. Today the engine has been perfected to keep its shape and sound and run like the champ it is.

The pistons on the v-twin are at a 45 degree angle and this design has been known to make the pistons fire at uneven times.  In order to rectify the problem the engine was designed to run with a single set of points and so the first cylinder fires initiating the power stoke and then the second fires when the exhaust valve is open.  This is produced because of the angle and it subsequently produced the distinctive sound of the Harley. 

As engineering advanced the design of the Harley engine was kept mostly the same. The design of the engine had created a sound that endeared the Harley motorcycle to its fans. Because of the love of the sound that the angle of the engine produced Harley’s are recognized all over the world. 

The sound of a Harley echoes round the world and the Harley Davidson Company has tried unsuccessfully to patent the sound. Even though they were unsuccessful at their trademark application the company has succeeded in making their brand a status symbol desired by people all over the globe.

The sound of the original “flawed” engine is still a sound that turns heads today.  It is a trademark of a company that has built its reputation on the quality and excellence of its products.

The best way to break in a motorcycle engine has certainly been the topic of more than one heated discussion. We’ve heard all different methods, each stating that it is “the best” or “the only” way to break in a new engine. There’s the break-it-in-like-you’re going-to ride-it method, which is really just “beat the hell out of it, and just don’t worry about it.” Then there are those who baby the engine so much, they damage it by lugging it and not circulating enough oil. It doesn’t matter whether it is a 93-cubic inch S&S-Series engine or a 124-cubic inch V Twin Series engine, we have figured out what offers the best results down the line. Follow these steps for your new or freshly rebuilt engine, or a brand new bike:

1) Initial start-up: Run the engine approximately one minute at 1,250 to 1,750 rpm. DO NOT crack throttle or subject it to any loads during this period, as head gaskets are susceptible to failure at this time. During this time check to see that your oil pressure is normal and that oil is returning to the oil tank.

2) Shut off the engine, and thoroughly check for any leaks. Let the engine cool to the touch.

3) After the engine has cooled, start it again and allow the motor to build some heat. The engine should be run no longer than three to four minutes. When the cylinders become warm/hot to the touch (approximately 150 degrees) shut the motor down and let it cool to room temperature.

4) Repeat this procedure three or four times. Each successive time it should take slightly longer to warm up, and you can increase the temp slightly each time (+10 degrees). You can be more liberal each time with the rpm, gently varying the engine speed continuously from idle up to 2,500 rpm in the final cycle. Don’t be too concerned with final carb settings at this time cause idle speed and mixture cannot be correctly set until the motor reaches full operating temperature. The motor should not reach that temperature during these cycles. Do not allow engine temperature to become excessive. After the motor has cooled to room temperature for the Final time, you are ready to start the 1000-mile engine break in process.

5) The first fifty miles are absolutely the most critical for new rings and piston break-in. Any unnecessary engine damage is most likely to, occur during this period, Do your best to keep the heat down, and don’t exceed 2,500 rpm. Avoid lugging the motor and riding in heavy traffic. Change your engine oil and filter at fifty miles.

6) The next 500 miles should be spent running the engine no faster than 3,500 rpm or sixty mph. Avoid Continuous steady speeds, and do not lug the engine. Vary engine rpm. We recommend changing the oil again at 500 miles.

7) For the balance of the first 1,000 miles, the motor can be run in a normal but conservative manner. You can be more liberal with the rpm range, and the motorcycle can be operated at normal highway speeds. Avoid overheating or putting any hard strain one engine-no drag racing, dyno runs, excessive speed, trailer towing or sidecar operation.

8) After 1,000 miles, verify carburetor jetting and, adjustment. Change the engine oil, and then change your oil every 2,500 miles thereafter. Now for your next question-”Can I break in the engine using synthetic oil?” Based on testing done at S & S, they proven that you can break in an engine with synthetic oil, and everything will seat and mate up just fine. If you choose to use standard oil for break in, that is acceptable as well. Just be sure that its motorcycle oil and not automobile oil. After the first fifty miles, we do recommend the use of Mobil 1 20-50 V-Twin synthetic oil for long term protection.

Caring for a motorcycle can be a lot of work but for those who truly enjoy their bikes it can be a pleasing pastime as well.  How often you clean and polish your bike will be directly related to how often you ride it. 

Preventative measures can help cut down on the amount of time you will spend caring for your bike.  There are protectants and preventative measures that you can take to guard the paint job and protect your bike.

One good way to protect your bike is to keep it out of the weather.  For some, that simply means storing it in the garage, but for those of us who have no space in our garages we are forced to find other options. 

One option is to purchase a cloth or plastic cover.  These covers can go a long way toward providing quality protection.  They do however have a few shortcomings. For example, the cover pulling on and off against the bike can scuff the paint job.  Also, the cover will not protect from such harsh weather elements as hail. 

A much better option for those facing a storage problem is to purchase a shed in which to house their bike. Shelters can be temporary or permanent, and they are a great low cost storage solution.  They can provide protection for your motorcycle, or any equipment that you want to keep safe from the environment. www.Shelter-Solution.com is a great place to find motorcycle covers & portable sheds, at factory direct prices!

You can build a shelter or order a kit and put them together from written instructions. Some storage sheds come fully assembled. The smaller ones are easily moveable, so companies can sell them fully assembled for an up charge. 

The way to get one of these types of storage sheds at a discount is to buy them in the fall. In the fall producers are going to slash their prices to move the products out.  They need to get rid of their surplus because winter is coming, and they will not be able to sell sheds during the winter months. If you are looking for a storage solution for your motorcycle, the easiest and most cost effective answer is a shed.

After you have proper protection for your bike form the elements you will want to make sure you are taking additional steps to protect your bike including: wearing non-scratching clothing while riding, choosing a saddle bag that will not scuff the bike, and checking to make sure your pockets are empty when riding.

If you want to protect your motorcycle the best thing you can do is to keep it out of the weather. Protecting your bike from the sun, rain and snow will pay off dividends in the upkeep and cost of your bike.

http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/tech/motorcycle_detailing/