Harley-Davidson’s Greatest Moments of 2017
This year seemed to zip by at Sportster speed. Fortunately, before the eggnog kicked in we gathered up our favorite moto-moments of 2017.
What do a bishop, a sailor, and a Blues Traveler have in common? No, it’s not the setup for a joke; they all became part of Harley-Davidson history this past year! If you’re like us, you can barely remember yesterday, let alone what happened over the past 12 months. So, to bring you up to speed, here are some of Harley-Davidson’s biggest moments of 2017.
Harley-Davidson Launches All-New Milwaukee-Eight Engine
Perhaps the biggest happening for Harley-Davidson this year was the all-new Milwaukee-Eight engine — the ninth Big Twin in the company’s history — plus all-new front and rear suspension for its Model Year 2017 Touring motorcycle lineup.
“With an all-new design, the new Milwaukee-Eight engine offers quicker throttle response, more passing power, purer sound, a smoother ride, and more of the feeling riders want from a Harley-Davidson Touring motorcycle,” said Randy Christianson, G.M. of Harley-Davidson Powertrain Operations.
The new Milwaukee-Eight engine is a ground-up design that combines the classic look, sound, and feel of Harley-Davidson Big Twin engines with improvements in performance, comfort, and control. Retaining the classic 45-degree V-Twin cylinder angle, the Milwaukee-Eight engine produces 10 percent more torque and features four-valve cylinder heads that offer 50 percent more intake and exhaust flow capacity than previous year models. Reviews for the new engine have been great, and bikers are enjoying their new rides.
Harley Unveils All-New 2018 Softail
Leading into its 115th Anniversary year, Harley-Davidson launched eight all-new Softail Big-Twin cruiser models designed under the largest product development project in company history. Each new cruiser motorcycle was redesigned from the ground-up and features the Milwaukee-Eight engine, an all-new frame, and advanced technology to form a new foundation of style, comfort, and performance.
“The new Softail models are the result of the most extensive research and development program in the company’s history,” said Paul James, Harley-Davidson Manager of Product Portfolio. “Thousands of hours of testing were put into the complete redesign of these new cruisers. We focused on taking the total rider experience to a higher level, where authenticity, heritage, and soul meet the modern edge of technology for a ride that must be felt to be believed.”
The 2018 Softail models merge the hard-riding performance of the Dyna line with the custom look of the Softail line. With stiffer, lighter frames to harness the torque of the new dual-counterbalanced Milwaukee-Eight 107 and 114 engines, each bike is faster, lighter, and handles better than any Big Twin cruiser predecessor, promises H-D.
Sailor Jerry and Harley-Davidson Announce Partnership
Ahoy, matey! Last April, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum aligned with Harley-Davidson for a multi-year partnership. To commemorate the kick-off of the partnership, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum unveiled a series of 22 customized Harley motorcycles designed by high profile artists and visionaries from around the United States, including H-D’s own Styling Team. This 360-partnership between the two iconic brands will come to life in bars, restaurants, Harley dealerships, and joint celebrations around the country. Consumers will continue to see a series of shared events from the two companies leading up to Harley-Davidson’s 115th Anniversary in 2018.
“Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and Harley-Davidson are all about freedom of expression and customization, whether that is expressed by a Norman Collins tattoo or a bike,” said Scott Beck, Harley-Davidson Director of Marketing. “We are struck by the natural ties Sailor Jerry has to the motorcycle culture.”
Through the American Legends’ Summer Bike Giveaway this past summer, fans of Harley-Davidson and Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum had a chance to win one of the 22 customized bikes.
H-D, Wounded Warrior & Adam Sandoval Team Up for ‘Mission: Thank You’
In yet another effort to honor U.S. service personnel, Harley-Davidson teamed up with Adam Sandoval of ScootinAmerica, and the Wounded Warrior Project to launch Mission: “Thank You.” The brainchild of Sandoval, his Mission: Thank You recognized those who have served, and are serving, to protect our freedom by giving away eight Harley-Davidson motorcycles powered by the all-new Milwaukee-Eight engine.
“We’re proud of the nearly 100 years of support Harley-Davidson has provided to the men and women who defend our country and our freedom,” says Matt Levatich, president and chief operating officer at Harley-Davidson, on their website.
Launched at San Diego Harley-Davidson on May 18, Mission: Thank You’s first recipient was veteran Shane Kruchten, who received a Purple Heart for a brain injury suffered while serving as a Marine in Iraq. Mission: Thank You concluded on October 25, 2017 with the eighth and final bike being given away to a deserving member of the military.
Episcopal Bishop Blessed the Bikes, then Joined the Ride
The annual “Blessing of the Bikes” at Christ Episcopal Church in Jordan, New York, on May 13 brought something different this year: After a short worship service conducted by Bishop the Rt. Rev. Dr. DeDe Duncan-Probe, she individually blessed the riders and their motorcycles, then joined them for a one-hour ride on her own black Harley-Davidson Softail Slim S.
The first woman to hold the position of bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, Duncan-Probe told the WOC Journal that she saw the event as a ministry opportunity as much as a leisure activity. “It’s a good opportunity to expand people’s ability to connect with the church,” she says. “I’m glad to have the opportunity to pray with people who I wouldn’t otherwise get to see.”
Duncan-Probe told the WOC Journal that she received her first motorcycle license at the age of 15 when her family became interested in bikes. “I was a little bit afraid of them,” she said. “It turns out it was a great thing because riding a motorcycle has a very spiritual aspect for me.”
Bikes, Beaches, and Babes Lit Up 76th Daytona Bike Week
Back in March of this year, tens of thousands of people broke free from the winter cold and hit Florida’s Daytona Beach for the 76th annual Daytona Bike Week. Harley-Davidson, the Official Motorcycle Sponsor, hosted an amazing venue at the Daytona International Speedway featuring free demos — including the all new Road King Special and other fully customized models. Rally-goers also were also able to check out how law enforcement officers use Harley-Davidson Police motorcycles to navigate an obstacle course, plus watch the Harley-Davidson Factory Flat Track Racing Team as it opened the 2017 American Flat Track season inside Daytona Speedway on an all-new 0.4-mile TT course. Other great entertainment during the rally included John Popper of the Blues Traveler, the Baywash Babes washing bikes in bikinis, and the second annual “Burning Bike.”
Motor City’s Rockin’ Harley Fest Returned to its Roots
Bigger than ever, Motor City Harley Fest took it old school back in June. Located at the new Motor City Harley-Davidson dealership in the northwest Detroit suburb of Farmington Hills, the event was spread out over 12 acres and featured a biker sound-off competition and a horsepower shoot-out. Musical acts for the weekend included Quiet Riot, Godsmack, Saving Abel, Josh Todd of Buckcherry, and ’80s hair tribute group Rockstar (pictured above). And best of all: One lucky person took home a new 2017 Sportster 883 Iron from Motor City H-D.
Pendleton Bike Week Gained Harley-Davidson as Title Sponsor
Riding into their third year, Pendleton Bike Week organizers were thrilled when Harley-Davidson Motor Company agreed to be the event’s title sponsor. Occurring this past July in Pendleton, Oregon, the fastest-growing motorcycle rally in the Western USA featured a performance by Grand Funk Railroad, an option to bike the famous Rattlesnake 400 (a self guided, 400-mile motorcycle ride), and two factory demo trucks from Harley-Davidson on site so riders could experience the company’s full line of motorcycles.
“Harley-Davidson is honored to be the title sponsor of Pendleton Bike Week,” said Chris Kutsch, Project Manager of Harley Davidson Events, at the time. “We are looking forward to rolling out west to Pendleton, and think it will be a great event for riders and non riders alike.” Upwards of 20,000 bikers were expected to attend the rally.
Harley-Davidson Made Its AIM Expo Debut
Every company has a first time and this year was Harley-Davidson’s premiere at the American International Motorcycle Expo in Columbus, Ohio. “AIMExpo offers a unique and timely opportunity for Harley-Davidson to share our new high-impact 2018 models with consumers, media, and the broader industry, in one place at one time,” said Anoop Prakash, Harley-Davidson U.S. Marketing Director. At the September event, first-time riders had a chance to see what riding a Harley feels like with the company’s JUMPSTART Rider Experience. Harley-Davidson recently unveiled long-term objectives that include building two million new riders over the next ten years in the U.S., as well as launching 100 high-impact motorcycles during the same window through 2027.
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