2000 Harley Davidson Fatboy on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Vespa goes back to the future

IT'S been a while coming, but the gorgeous Vespa 946 - EICMA 2012's Best of Show - has finally introduced something to the two-wheeled world that our four-wheeled counterparts have had for a while.  I call this 'reverse retro-futurism' - the art of borrowing lines from models past and imbuing them with a sleek sense of future direction (as opposed to retro-futurism, the pre-1960s design trend of depicting the technology of the future. The term 'decopunk' may come close, but feel free to tell me if there's a more exact term.) It's what the New Mini and the New Beetle (both 1997 and 2012 versions) have done so well, and so successfully: building an all-new model as a tribute to a classic, something that's modern yet already timeless, with a widely-appreciated, inclusive aesthetic (and here we eliminate the Plymouth PT Cruiser from the conversation). The biking world is great at retro, indeed thrives on it, but not so good at adding in a taste of the 21st century.

Donation of Photos and Memorabilia to Harley-Davidson Museum Reveal Glimpse of Early Days at Harley

Harley-Davidson Museum today posted on its Facebook page a selection of photos it received as part of collection of images and memorabilia donated by a former Harley employee. According to the Facebook post former H-D employee Bob Jameson donated “ two scrapbooks, numerous photographs, news clippings and other company related materials” for the museum’s collection. Jameson, following in his father’s footsteps, worked for The Motor Company, and in 1960 helped develop a motorcycle suited for use in the Vietnam war.

New Harley-Davidson Sportster for India to Use 500cc V-Twin

When Harley-Davidson first entered the Indian market, The Motor Company decided to import existing models as complete knockdown kits for final assembly in the burgeoning market. Considering the average motorcycle in India has a displacement smaller than 200cc, it was inevitable Harley-Davidson would eventually have to produce a small-displacement model rather than rely on its existing product line which currently lists the 883cc sportsters as its smallest bikes. Despite a denial last May by Harley-Davidson India’s Managing Director Anoop Prakash, it now appears Harley-Davidson is set to announce a new small-displacement model to be produced in India at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo next February.