American Honda Motor Company's Powersports Division has announced the additional release of 2011-model year street bikes. Thus far, the named cruisers are carryover models, and include the Fury, Interstate, Shadow RS and Shadow Phantom, with the Sabre and Stateline customs to be released at a later date.

Sept.1, 2010 - Not to be forgotten in the new model release wars is Star Motorcycles, who today released its lineup for 2011. The bulk of the 2011 bikes are carryovers from 2010, but the big buzz for Star this year is the new Stryker, a 1300 cc V twin cruiser that combines raw chopper-ish looks with modern performance bits.

August 30, PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Some of the fastest motorcyclists in the world take to the Bonneville Salt Flats today as the 2010 AMA Racing Land Speed Grand Championships kick into high gear near Salt Lake City. The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) will certify numerous land-speed records expected to be set at the event, in classes featuring everything from 50cc mini-bikes to 2,000cc-plus purpose-built high-speed motorcycles.

Class-busting power. Tractor-like torque. In-your-face attitude. We're talking about the V-Max, right? We could be, but in this case our adjectives are reserved for another revered rocket from yesteryear, the Kawasaki Eliminator ZL900. Now also celebrating its 25th Anniversary, the Eliminator personified power cruising before the term was even invented, when it hit the streets in 1985. It was motivated by the same liquid-cooled, 16-valve, inline-4 engine found in 1984's speedy ZX900 Ninja (albeit slightly modified). Only produced for 2 years, the ZL900 sported a bobbed rear fender, fat rear tire (at the time, the widest of any production motorcycle) tiny fuel tank and low bars, and lightning acceleration, which positioned it far ahead of heavyweight competitors like the Suzuki Madura and Yamaha V-Max. Alas, unlike the Max, they don't make the Eliminator anymore-the last year of production for the 908cc ZL was 1986. But you can still share the stories and view awesome tricked out models that over 1100 members of the Kawasaki ZL Owners Association are proud to share on www.zl-oa.com. Or you can reminisce over these photos culled from a racy ad campaign that ran back in the day. Check out that babe in the Porsche... -AC

Motorcyclist and Motorcycle Cruiser magazines are proud to announce the launch of America's Best Rides and Roads, a website that provides detailed ride information - with maps, photos and more - on more than 600 roads across the continental U.S. Eight Garmin zūmo 220 GPS units will be given away - that's one each and every week starting August 23rd! America's Best Rides and Roads, features a vast database of rides, written specifically for motorcyclists by motorcyclists. With ratings on road quality, scenery, amenities and more you'll find valuable information to help you plan your next trip. The Editors of Motorcyclist and Motorcycle Cruiser write about their favorite rides and roads, with updates weekly. "Epic Rides" are full-length feature stories offering magazine-quality tours to read about.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. AUGUST 17, 2010 - What started as a joking request led the town of Cridersville, Ohio, to officially change its name for a day to Snidersville in honor of Dee Snider, front man for the 1980's heavy metal band Twisted Sister, and national spokesman for March of Dimes Bikers for Babies.

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 6, 2010 -- It's been a long time coming, but Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) has finally found a buyer for its beleaguered MV Agusta subsidiary. The Motor Company concluded the sale of high-end, performance-oriented MV to Claudio Castiglioni and his wholly-owned holding company, MV Agusta Motor Holding, S.r.l., effective today.

July 30, 2010
We probably should have seen this one coming. Because of a decline in retail demand for Harley-Davidson sidecars, which the Company says increased following the launch of the Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide family of trikes, Harley-Davidson has made the decision to exit the sidecar business. The Motor Company states it will end sidecar production upon completion of remaining 2011 model year orders. Effective immediately, no new sidecar orders will be taken.

Harley-Davidson says it will continue to support its dealer network and offer customer support for sidecar owners; current customers will continue to honor warranties and repairs, while supplying service parts and technical support. The sidecar was first made available to Harley-Davidson customers in 1914 and has been a big part of the Company's history.

(Lake Forest, CA July 29, 2010) Effective end of this month, Motovan becomes the exclusive distributor for Scorpion helmets in Canada. This expansion plan will expand Scorpion's reach significantly, and northern dealers can expect quicker product deliveries and even more added value benefits.

Just the other night, Victory Motorcycles revealed its 2011 line-up of motorcycles to its dealer body at the annual Polaris Industries dealer meeting near Orlando, Florida. Included in the introduction of 2011 year model motorcycles is the announcement of a 106 C.I. engine for all models, the addition of a new "100,000 mile" transmission to all models, and the unveiling of the new Cross Roads Custom, a highly configurable model that's designed to be easily customized to the individual owner. Seemingly following in Harley's footsteps (is there a mole hidden somewhere in the company?), Victory also announced the addition of a touring top case specifically designed for the Cross Roads and Cross Country, as well as new accessories and exhaust systems. The highlights for 2011 Victorys follow:

MILWAUKEE (July 27, 2010) - A few days ago, at a spanking new LEED-certified resort hotel nestled in a vineyard under an uncharacteristically clear blue Oregon sky, Harley-Davidson unveiled its 2011 motorcycle lineup to the media.

July 23rd - The automobile driver who crashed into motorcyclist Anita Zaffke last year, killing her, has been sentenced to 18 months of limited imprisonment. The motorist, Lora Hunt, ignited outrage within the motorcycling community when she admitted to police that she was painting her fingernails at the time of the accident, which took place in a Chicago suburb.

MILWAUKEE (July 19, 2010) - Harley-Davidson riders and motorcycle enthusiasts will enjoy the 70th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally at a new location in the heart of Sturgis for 2010.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) is pleased to announce the 2010 AMA Voter Guide, a comprehensive online voter guide designed to educate AMA members on how their elected officials acted upon and voted on motorcycle-relevant issues.

MILWAUKEE, July 20, 2010 -- Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) reported second-quarter 2010 income from continuing operations of $139.3 million, or $0.59 per share, compared to income of $33.4 million and earnings per share of $0.14 from continuing operations in the year-ago quarter. Second-quarter 2010 results include operating income from Financial Services of $60.8 million. Revenue from Motorcycles and Related Products was $1.14 billion in the second quarter.

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After taking a year off to reorganize its assets - Suzuki did not officially offer 2010 model year machines, and it was difficult for us to even get information from them much of the year - the Japanese manufacturer has announced its first wave of new models for the 2011 model year. In addition to the launch of these new motorcycles and ATVs, American Suzuki is also celebrating its 50th anniversary of international racing this summer. "We are excited to launch a significant number of new units for the 2011 model year, while at the same time we celebrate a half-century of racing," said Steve Bortolamedi, Senior Communications Manager at American Suzuki.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has published the results from a pilot study that tested methodologies to be used in a more in-depth investigation into motorcycle crashes, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) reports. The larger study is now under way at the Oklahoma Transportation Center, a well-respected research facility, under the supervision of Oklahoma State University (OSU).

Milwaukee (July 16, 2010) - Harley-Davidson Motor Company is pleased to announce that it has joined the list of exhibitors at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the 2010 MotoGP Red Bull Indianapolis GP August 27-29.

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- An enthusiastic crowd was on hand Thursday, July 8, at the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, for the dedication of the new main-floor gallery and the opening of the new exhibits, "30-Year Ride: Honda's Ohio-Made Motorcycles," and "Dirt-Track! All-American Racing."