Harley-Davidson and Gibson Guitar are collaborating on a "Night Of Custom" to be held May 19th in the United Kingdom. Details of the exact location have yet to be announced but with these two companies involved, the event is sure to be a celebration of freedom and rebellion. Needless to say, the matching of these two iconic brands is perfect. Harley-Davidson riders have always been moved by the spirit of Rock and Roll.

Gibson Guitar Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz elaborates on the shared values of the brands, Most people agree Gibson Guitar produces the best guitars and are played by the world’s most renowned and enduring musicians over the last 100 years. This is similar to the Harley-Davidson motorcycle which has produced the best American V-Twin motorcycles for the last 100 years. No other motorcycle embodies the Rock and Roll life style and no other musical instrument encapsulates the rock and roll culture like Gibson. Juszkiewicz said he was pleased to partner with Harley-Davidson believing Harley is considered the worldwide leader in motorcycles.

The event will showcase some of the finest custom Harley Davidson Motorcycles and custom Gibson Guitars. The Harley-Davidson design team will give demonstrations of custom design techniques. Custom Motorcycles and Rock and Roll are about self expression so it is fitting these two great companies collaborate and celebrate their respective expertise in the art of customization. The event will feature musical acts Feeder, The Crave and The Maccabees.

Two Harley Davidson motorcycles placed in the top three at the 2010 AMA Grand National Twins Series on the Yavapi Downs Mile. This race always attracts a big crowd and this year's event was no different. Watching professional bikers race around the track at high speeds is always exciting, and this race is at the top of the list.

The second place bike was a Harley Davidson, ridden by Sammy Halbert. Third place was taken by Harley Davidson Screamin' Eagle factory rider, Ken Coolbeth. He blazed to a finish on the Harley Davidson XR-750 motorcycle.

During the event, the race was temporarily stopped due to heavy dust on the track. After the red flag on the first lap, the track, which is surrounded by desert, was watered down to make it safer to ride on. Additionally, the main was made shorter; it is usually 25 laps, but it was dropped down to 20 laps.

Harley rider Halbert passed into first place on the eighth lap, while fellow Harley rider Coolbeth fell to fifth place, five full seconds behind Halbert by the 13th lap. However, late in the game on the 17th lap, Coolbeth gained third place by blazing from the backfield.

Since this was a track that they had not raced on before, the third-place, come-from-behind victory was quite a feat. Additionally, this was the first Grand National event at Yavapai Downs, which was previously a horse racing track. The AMA Grand National Twins will appear next at the end of this month on the Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois.

A bit different than the standard rides through the countryside that most Harley owners are used to, the first ever International Motorcyclists Conference will take place soon in Brussels, Belgium. Recently, several high profile motorcycle agencies invited members of the media and representatives from the major motorcycle manufacturers to attend the MEP Ride in Brussels.

While riding through Belgium is a new experience for many riders, this particular ride has been made more unique due to the presence of high profile people taking place in the event.

The motorcycle agencies which are taking place in this event are as follows:
FEMA, the Federation of European Motorcyclists Association
MCC, the Motorcycle Confederation of Canada
AMC, the Australian Motorcycle Council

All of these groups have started publicity events to draw members of the media and riders to the event. All of this buzz has been created because the event will feature members of the European Parliament, members of the European Commission and high-level stakeholders from the motorcycle communities of Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States.

In addition to the special people who will be attending the event, there will be special bikes present as well. In order to impress the high profile attendees, the newest models will be showcased and may even be available to ride.

So, if you have had your fill of the typical rides, it may be time for you to hit the road and head to Belgium for a truly unique ride. It might take some impressive networking to get a slot next to the president of the European Parliament, but it never hurts to try. Live the spirit of Harley Davidson and live your life in a new way, the best way possible.

The Roland Sands Design team has done it again with a modified Harley Davidson XR-1200 that is indicative that a Harley does not have to be a cruiser. The design group is well known from their past work, and this recent modification is just as impressive. Especially for those who ride a Sportster. Roland Sands Design took a stock Harley Davidson XR-1200 and produced a stylish performance sport bike. The resulting work of art has impressed everyone who saw it debuted at a recent bike show. This bike, while originally customized from an XR-1200 has taken on a shape and style of its own, resulting in a real high-performance motorcycle.

Roland Sands embarked on this project after completing a number modified Harley Davidson softail motorcycles. The previous custom Harley Davidson softail motorcycles built by Roland Sands Design embodied the vintage Bobber theme with the typical RSD twist. From these project came the immensely popular Vintage Z style Ape Hanger handlebars and Venturi Air Cleaner. The XR1200 project is significant for Harley in that it caters to the younger sport bike rider that is lacking in the Harley Davidson world.

To accomplish this Roland Sands pursued a sport bike look and ride replacing the front suspension with a Ohlins fork originally designed for a GSX. A single sided swingarm was used with another Ohlins shock for the rear suspension originally designed for a Ducati. To complete the bike it is fitted with an exhaust from Vance&Hines and a new Roland Sands designed set of wheels called Tuxedo. The belt drive was replaced with a chain drive to improve power transfer.

The project was inspired by Roland´s past as racer in the 250CC class and work modifying other Harley Davidson motorcycles with his own custom made aftermarket parts. Resulting from the past custom Harley Davidson motorcycles RSD has completed is a catalog filled with Wheels such as the Diesel, Air Cleaner assemblies, and Exhaust Systems. One of the designs that has taken the market by storm is the Contrast Cut. This design is available in Wheels and Air Cleaner assemblies. From this project the Tuxedo wheels and other parts for Harley Davidsons XR1200 will see their way into the RSD catalog.

Harley Davidson is considering a move out of Wisconsin if the motorcycle manufacturing company cannot control its costs. Known for the entirety of its existence as a producer of high-quality bikes, this move reflects the overall sentiment in many of the states of the US right now.

There are two main manufacturing plants that may see closure. The first is a powertrain operation that employs 1,320 workers. The second plant produces components for Tomahawks. Currently they are making motorcycle windshields, employing around 375 people for the job.

This report came after the company held meetings with leaders of the employee union. Harley Davidson management is considering moving these elements of their manufacturing to other H-D sites around the country, possibly saving money on the fixed costs of lease and overhead.

Harley Davidson was reported as saying it hopes to save millions of dollars one way or the other, so these two plants in Wisconsin have a lot to do if they wish to stay competitive and stay open. The main form of savings from closing the Wisconsin plant would come from lower labor costs and overhead expenses. The savings would also come when the functions done at the Wisconsin factory would get lumped into the existing operations in other places.

While Harley Davidson has mainly posted rising profits, this is largely due to the fact that the company has been cutting costs. This will keep shareholders happy in the short run, but cost cutting is never a strategy for medium term growth. Harley Davidson must work carefully to uphold the strong brand image it has developed over the decades.

The big custom motorcycle event will be returning to the Queen Mary Event Park in Long Beach, California July 18th and 19th 2010. It will be the 19th annual LA Calendar Motorcycle Show event

This event is always a favorite among Harley fans in Southern California, and this year should be no different. Hosted in Long Beach, the weather will be perfect to check out impressive bikes with plenty of sunshine all day and light breezes coming off the waterfront. There is something about this show, walking on the grass having a beer, looking at some great bikes talking with builders and riders alike. Thousands are expected to come out to the event along with the best builders in the game today from American, Metric and Top Pro Custom bike builders. With over 190 exhibitors many of the big aftermarket parts companies will be attending, with the line up being filled out with a lot of motorcycle apparel makers.

The highlight for some will be the Custom Bike Building Championship, as the winner will receive a massive $86,000 for the first prize Best-in-Show award. Other events include a dyno competition, instruction on how to build a super bike, a model show (girls, not bikes) as well as Playboy Playmates. There will be a notable AC/DC tribute band playing throughout the festival as well as acclaimed songwriters Katie Cole and Elizabeth Nicole. This year promises to be one the best yet, after last year, the festival had the largest attendance in the history of the event. The thousands of attendees got to see the superb "One Eyed King" custom bike, designed by Kenji Nagai.

The Harley Davidson company has announced changes in its organizational lineup, naming a new head of the Harley Davidson Museum and factory tours. They have hired from within this time, keeping the Harley Davidson tradition close to home. Previously the vice president of core customer marketing, Bill Davidson will take on this new role with great enthusiasm. Bill is a lover of the products and services offered from the American motorcycle maker. His family name may be recognizable because he is the great grandson of William A. Davidson, the company's famous co-founder. Davidson has held many positions during his more than 26 year tenure with the Harley-Davidson motor company. Davidson likes to say that Harley Davidson is in his blood.  For Bill the Museum is not just the story of the motor company it is the story of America's motorcycle.

The position that Bill is taking was formerly managed by Stacey Watson, who helped open the museum in the summer of 2008. Stacey has been given a new role within the organization as the head of marketing for North America. This position will bring on greater responsibilities for her, but she is ready for the new challenges. These changes come at a challenging time for Harley Davidson as some of their factories have been temporarily shut down. With this downtime, future customers may have to wait for their Harleys to arrive. If you are planning to grab one of your own this month, you should go secure yours as soon as you can before the current inventory is gone.

The plants in York County and Kansas City have been closed for the time being, with a reopening date that has not yet been announced. While this closure is not going to interfere with the overall operations of Harley Davidson, the ease of getting your hands on a Harley may decrease.

On April 6th Harley-Davidson (symbol HOG) reported a 40% gain in the preceding eight-week period. CNN Money attributes most of the positive vibes to RBC Capital Markets’ High on the Hog report, which moved Harley’s stock target from $32 to $36 per share. CNN also reports that more aggressive pricing from Harley, along with signs that the retail market is rebounding, are positive indicators.

Of course, if you’re not an investor, you may think this news doesn’t relate to you. However, the fact that the company continues to be on good footing has a bearing on everyone who owns a Harley. Simply put, companies manufacturing all the parts and accessories we love to customize our bikes with want to be assured that they are producing related items for a product that’s here to stay. The recent news is good for them -- and great for those of us who can’t stop customizing. Expect a steady stream of products to continue.

As an owner, you’ll also be secure in the fact that the upgrades you make to your bike will retain value. With the new Harley-Davidson market on solid footing, you’ll rest assured in the fact that the used market will follow suit. This means when it’s time to sell your bike to trade up, you won’t simply be giving away all the improvements you made. So go ahead and add a set of NYC Choppers or Todds Cycle Hand Grips to improve your hand comfort or get those new Cyclesmiths Floorboards you’ve had your eyes on. When you figure the added enjoyment you’ll get, along with the value you bring to your bike, it’s a great investment.

If you or someone you know is in the market for a new bike, or if you’re just curious about what Harley-Davidson has to offer for 2010, then you’re in luck. Harley is once again offering those with a motorcycle license a chance to test ride its new models. This year’s event is called Super Ride 2010 and runs from April 1st to June 30th. Those that take part in the promotion can enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a new Harley. The winner will also go to Milwaukee and customize his or her new ride in the Willie G. Davidson design studio. In addition, there’s a $500 daily give-away. Riders can register online or by contacting their local Harley dealer.

Of course, we’d like to congratulate those of you who end up purchasing a new bike after your test drive. However, we’d also like to remind you that your work isn’t done. Remember, due to emission laws, Harleys don’t come "off the rack" sounding like a Harley anymore. So unless you are OK with sounding like a metric cruiser, be prepared to pay the "Harley tax" for a new exhaust. Luckily, there are many options. A set of Khrome Werks 3 HP Slip On muffers will do the trick for less than $250.  For the ultimate performance kick exhausts such as the Supertrapp 2 into 2 Megaphone are great. There are many alternatives out there. For instance, you can go to the Vance & Hines or Bassani exhaust systems. For fuel management take a look at the Dynojet Power Comander.