Harley Buys MV Agusta

So it looks like it's official - Harley-Davidson announced that they are acquiring MV Agusta.

In a move to gain access to a broader, growing customer base in Europe and the U.S., motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson Inc. agreed to purchase MV Agusta Group, an Italian motorcycle company, for about $109 million.

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The California "hands free" cell phone 'laws' take effect today - cagers aren't allowed to use a cell phone unless the driver is using a hands-free device.

Personally, I don't see this as having a major impact on safety. But it certainly will drive sales of Bluetooth and other wireless devices.

Now, if I want to use my cell phone while riding my sportbike through the twisties, I guess I'll have to upgrade to the latest cell phone technology - my old trusty Nokia isn't Bluetooth-compatible.

Nice to see the California legislature has all that time on their hands.

As the Times Online newspaper points out, Harley-Davidson management thinks that the next generation (post-boomers, that is) is probably looking for something a little less, shall we say, traditional.

Lots of talk about the future here. Lots of conjecture. From the sound of it, Harley Davidson management is looking for new places to sell, and new people to sell to. A new generation of buyers...

Any changes will not happen quickly enough to compensate for the slide in domestic sales. The group is finding other ways to compete, splitting marketing into two, one concentrating on traditional, more mature Harley customers, as epitomised in last year’s Hollywood movie Wild Hogs, and the other aiming at young men and women riders.

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Record Fuel Prices

As fuel prices soar, recent news reports describe increasing numbers of commuters showing a renewed interest in motorcycling as an alternative to travel by car. Motorcycles offer a number of advantages over cars -- if you are willing to ride a mid-displacement bike (600cc to 800cc) you can expect good fuel economy and reasonable power, comfort, and versatility.

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