In 2016 Harley-Davidson Financial Service Loan Losses Shot Up Year Over year. The 1.9% retail credit losses came amid a 2.3% year-over-year decline in loan originations. It’s a high unseen since the fourth quarter of 2010, when loan losses hit 2.11%. “The increase in losses was due to higher defaults across the portfolio, especially from those loans given in oil-dependent areas, and also lower used-bike values at auction” said John Olin, Harley-Davidson Inc.’s senior vice president and chief financial officer. For a motorcycle manufacturer, the recovery value is always a function of the used-bike price. As used-bike prices have come down, credit losses have gone up at Harley-Davidson Financial Services.
New Official Daytona Bike week Website. To coincide with the 2017 Official Bike Week event managed by the Daytona Regional Chamber’s Bike Week Task Force, the new website serves as the year-round online hub for information related to the event. This new website boasts a responsive design which allows an ease of use on any device. The website also features a sticky navigation, known in the industry as persistent navigation, that works to help visitors find what they are looking for with the least amount of clicks. The website was created by local company “Architechs for the Web” “
Indian May Finally Assemble Bikes In India. Polaris is looking to expand its dealerships footprint and planning to assemble the Indian motorcycles in the country itself. The company is reportedly scouting for locations to start assembly for the complete Indian Motorcycle range. Currently, the lineup includes the Chiefs, the Springfield, the Roadmaster and the Scout.
American Motorcyclist Association Announces Recipients Of 2017 AMA Awards. The individuals and organizations selected by the AMA Board of Directors have made outstanding contributions to the motorcycling community and their efforts support the AMA mission to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. The AMA Dud Perkins Lifetime Achievement Award is the most prestigious of the awards and is presented for 2017 to John Ulrich of Lake Elsinore, Calif. Ulrich, a competitive road racer, team owner and publisher, was elected to the AMA Board of Directors in 2005 and served with distinction until 2015. Other 2017 award recipients include: • AMA Outstanding Road Rider Award: Denny “Budman” Kobza Jr., Palo Alto, Calif. • AMA Outstanding Off-Road Rider Award: Russ Ehnes, Great Falls, Mont. • AMA Bessie Stringfield Award: Michelle Kumbier, Colgate, Wisc. • AMA Hazel Kolb Brighter Image Award: Backcountry Discovery Routes, Seattle. • Friend of the AMA Award: Perry King, Kool, Calif.; Louisville Vintage Motorworks, Louisville, Ky.; Nitro Circus, San Clemente, Calif.; Kelly Inman, Huntington Beach, Calif.; David O. DeWitt, Fort Wayne, Ind. Continue reading ‘Fast Motorcycle Industry News’