1- Motorcycle Theft Tools. Using “pigtails”to bypass the factory-installed ignition it takes as little as 20 seconds for thieves to steal a motorcycle. Law enforcement agencies across California now have the ability to crack down on crooks who were taking advantage of a loophole in the law to steal thousands of sport motorcycles every year. Starting January 1, 2011 possession of “pigtails” and other items associated with motorcycle theft will be illegal in California. Previously, police officers and deputies could not arrest a suspect carrying those devices to steal a motorcycle because it was not against the law.
2- The Harley-Davidson annual open house at the York Vehicle Operations and Kansas City facilities is canceled. The event used to draw about 10,000 visitors, benefiting local bars and hotels. Harley-Davidson declared that “an expanded commitment of resources to other activities will preclude an open house this year” The York facility will still be the presenting sponsor of York City’s Bike Night Sept. 24, and the factory still offers free weekday factory tours at both facilities.
Added 01/03/10 at 10.55 AM. I am advised by Harley-Davidson that they are still contemplating to keep in 2011 the Annual Open House at the York Vehicle Operations and Kansas City facilities. (it was cancelled in 2010). I am told that a definitive decision will be made in the next 30 days.
Correction: Harley-Davidson IS having a New Years party, with free food & alcohol, and a tour of there new India factory this week……… Don’t miss it ! Ive read online that 10,000 people was just not quite enough this year for HD to host the US party.. In India, they expect 500,000 patrons…. Hummm ?
Just some New Year ‘news’……. Keep up the great job CYRIL ! ! !
Keith, Keith, Keith – Harley-Davidson does not have a factory in India. Nor do they have one in Brazil. Why oh why, do we keep seeing this sort of totally distorted comment? Is it lack of intelligence? Is it just that the Harley haters are totally blinded by their pent up venom? Ignorance? If it’s an attempt at humor it misses the boat. Especially because it provides grist for the mill to the true ignoramuses out there.
And!!
I visited HD’s hospitality room at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach during Bike Week a few times. In a rare display of generosity by the Company, my friends and I were treated to some gormet dried out popcorn. Oh thanks HD, what a lasting memory from someone that has purchased over two hundred grand in new bikes and parts. Not impressed.
The Brazilian operation is alive and maybe well in Manus, Brazil
CA finally passed a law that makes some sense….now watch the liberal bastards over-turn it!!!!!!!!
What do you mean by this?” Nor do they have one in Brazil.” The final assembly plant in Brazil has been operational since 1999! The plant in India is slated to become operational in the first half of this year. Although it is now an International marketplace no matter who likes it, a fact check is in order here. By the way, many of the “hard parts” used to build HD motorcycles have been sourced abroad for years. There are no purely American made motorcycles now and there hasn’t been for decades. The Brazilian and Indian bikes will be assembled from CKD (complete knock down) kits shipped from the U.S. to help make the bikes more affordable in local markets due to tarriffs. This is just another American manufacturer making the adjustments it can to compete because our elected officials will not make the appropriate adjustments in trade practices. If we would place extreme tarriffs on the countries who do this to us, the situation might improve. Free trade would be fine if it were also fair trade. Hating Harley for this may be ignorant, but not recognizing the root of the problem is stupid. Ignorance in curable, stupidity is terminal.
deadwood1783, neither the India nor the Brazil plant are factories where the bikes are manufactured. They are assembly plants. That’s my point. Both Keith Stone and earlier posts regarding Harley-Davidson allude that the bikes are being manufactured there. Or at least some readers of this blog seem to think so. There is a big difference between sending CKD bikes overseas and manufacturing them there. As for extreme tariffs, they only reduce sales and do not solve anything. America has long been seen as the bully boy of free trade around the world so let’s not have anyone making the situation worse.
HD think they’re going save money opening a plant in India, just wait til they have to build a parking lot to accommodate the commuting employees and their elephants.
20 seconds is right. I seen people park, go into a business and come back and their bike was gone. I remember the law against Dent puller “tool of choice by car thieve” the police start cracking down on them, and stopped allowing them to be sold to people without a permit. glad California stepped it’s game up.
In addition to “pigtails”, it will also be considered a misdemeanor to possess electrical tape, wire cutters, wire strippers or allen wrenches.
The law is from the brains of morons and is to be enforced by government thugs and thieves.
Mike Greenwald,
Well said!
Over & Out,
Jeff
Doc. Old birds should face into the wind or your feathers get ruffled.
The words factory and plant often mean the same thing.
By using the words “assembly plant” gives a designation.
Let me ask which is correct.
Does your bike have an engine or a motor ? Doesn’t make any difference to me.