The trade conflict between the US and the EU is boomeranging back to the White House. As the EU must now pay higher tariffs on the export of select products, they have retaliated by equally increasing duties on some US products, among them motorcycles including the much-beloved Harley-Davidson. Like no other brand, it stands for the American dream, freedom and strength. Trump himself once called the legendary Harley-Davidson the very embodiment of "made in America." With a feared drop in exports due to the taxes, the company has decided to outsource portions of its production in order to avoid losing too many customers outside the US. But how precisely did the Harley-Davidson achieve its cult status? It's quite likely that it all began with a certain closeness to lawlessness. After World War II and the Vietnam War, the motorcycle was often the chosen means of transport of men who felt marginalized in US society. That's at least the theory of sociologist and consumerism researcher Kai-Uwe Hellmann who presented his views in an interview with the German daily Handelsblatt. At the same time, Hellmann added, the Harley has come to symbolize a mixture of typically American values and a self-determined lifestyle. The motorcycle is associated with the biker gang scene while also enjoying a reputation as one of the world's most expensive motorcycles, especially in terms of its maintenance. But how precisely did the Harley-Davidson achieve its cult status? It's quite likely that it all began with a certain closeness to lawlessness. After World War II and the Vietnam War, the motorcycle was often the chosen means of transport of men who felt marginalized in US society. That's at least the theory of sociologist and consumerism researcher Kai-Uwe Hellmann who presented his views in an interview with the German daily Handelsblatt. At the same time, Hellmann added, the Harley has come to symbolize a mixture of typically American values and a self-determined lifestyle. The motorcycle is associated with the biker gang scene while also enjoying a reputation as one of the world's most expensive motorcycles, especially in terms of its maintenance. In fact, the legendary motorcycle is so expensive that most of its purchasers tend to be wealthy old men. After work, they take off their judge's robes and surgical gowns, put on their biker leathers, and pull their Fat Boys out of the garage to go cruising around the suburbs. While producing a trademark rumble, the motorcycles give their owners a feeling of being desperados, riding their iron horses towards the sunset. It's the illusion of a bit of "dirt" in their glossy daily lives. Another ingredient in this experience is the deep powerful sound of rattling and crackling motors that seems to empower the proud bikers. In fact, the legendary motorcycle is so expensive that most of its purchasers tend to be wealthy old men. After work, they take off their judge's robes and surgical gowns, put on their biker leathers, and pull their Fat Boys out of the garage to go cruising around the suburbs. While producing a trademark rumble, the motorcycles give their owners a feeling of being desperados, riding their iron horses towards the sunset. It's the illusion of a bit of "dirt" in their glossy daily lives. Another ingredient in this experience is the deep powerful sound of rattling and crackling motors that seems to empower the proud bikers. This would cost the company about $90 million to $100 million annually, the manufacturer said, adding that it was striving to absorb extra costs rather than pass them on to customers in the medium-term. "Harley-Davidson believes the tremendous cost increase, if passed onto its dealers and retail customers, would have an immediate and lasting detrimental impact to its business in the region," it said in the filing. In order to avoid the impact of higher EU tariffs on its sales, the company also announced that it would be "implementing a plan to shift production of motorcycles for EU destinations from the US to its international facilities." This would cost the company about $90 million to $100 million annually, the manufacturer said, adding that it was striving to absorb extra costs rather than pass them on to customers in the medium-term. "Harley-Davidson believes the tremendous cost increase, if passed onto its dealers and retail customers, would have an immediate and lasting detrimental impact to its business in the region," it said in the filing. In order to avoid the impact of higher EU tariffs on its sales, the company also announced that it would be "implementing a plan to shift production of motorcycles for EU destinations from the US to its international facilities." The Milwaukee-based company sold almost 40,000 motorcycles in the EU last year, generating revenue second only to the United States. Donald Trump has repeatedly used the company as an example of how European import tariffs hurt US producers. Yet Harley-Davidson had previously warned that the escalating tariffs spat would lead to an even higher burden for the company. The company said ramping up production at non-US plants, which are located in India, Brazil and Thailand, would require additional investment and take at least nine to 18 months to complete. It also said it hoped to limit the cost from higher EU tariffs to between $30 million to $45 million in the meantime. The Milwaukee-based company sold almost 40,000 motorcycles in the EU last year, generating revenue second only to the United States. Donald Trump has repeatedly used the company as an example of how European import tariffs hurt US producers. Yet Harley-Davidson had previously warned that the escalating tariffs spat would lead to an even higher burden for the company. The company said ramping up production at non-US plants, which are located in India, Brazil and Thailand, would require additional investment and take at least nine to 18 months to complete. It also said it hoped to limit the cost from higher EU tariffs to between $30 million to $45 million in the meantime. A trade war is brewing between the EU and the US. Brussels is now planning to slap customs taxes on US products, including Harley Davidson motorcyles. To the alarm of German upper-class rockers. In retaliation for US tariffs on steel and aluminium the EU has slapped new duties on billions of dollars of American imports and it seems not even the Harley, a symbol of freedom, is exempt. Last season, the siblings finished second and third in the overall standings. With the series adopting a two-race format for all seven rounds, Travis and Kyle will need to remain consistent throughout the 14-race calendar. A trade war is brewing between the EU and the US. Brussels is now planning to slap customs taxes on US products, including Harley Davidson motorcyles. To the alarm of German upper-class rockers. In retaliation for US tariffs on steel and aluminium the EU has slapped new duties on billions of dollars of American imports and it seems not even the Harley, a symbol of freedom, is exempt. Last season, the siblings finished second and third in the overall standings. With the series adopting a two-race format for all seven rounds, Travis and Kyle will need to remain consistent throughout the 14-race calendar. To help root on the boys, Harley will offer its 120th Anniversary VIP Ticket Package. Available in three-day and one-day packages, the VIP passes include premium reserved parking (for Harley-Davidson motorcycles), fan zone entry, and paddock access. Pass holders will also gain access to all MotoAmerica practice sessions, qualifying, and races along with an opportunity to participate in Harley-Davidson parade laps on Friday and Saturday. The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory racing team may have relinquished the crown in 2022, but it’s pulling out all the stops to return to the top in 2023. To help root on the boys, Harley will offer its 120th Anniversary VIP Ticket Package. Available in three-day and one-day packages, the VIP passes include premium reserved parking (for Harley-Davidson motorcycles), fan zone entry, and paddock access. Pass holders will also gain access to all MotoAmerica practice sessions, qualifying, and races along with an opportunity to participate in Harley-Davidson parade laps on Friday and Saturday. The Harley-Davidson Screamin’ Eagle factory racing team may have relinquished the crown in 2022, but it’s pulling out all the stops to return to the top in 2023. Naturally, the rivalry continued over to the asphalt as the King of the Baggers class – originally slated to be a one-off race at Laguna Seca – became such a hit that MotoAmerica tapped it to become part of select rounds on the calendar. With that, the game was on. Harley struck first, winning the 2021 championship with Kyle Wyman aboard the Screaming Eagle Factory Road Glide. Then, in 2022, Indian struck back, taking the title with Tyler O’Hara aboard the Challenger Bagger. Naturally, the rivalry continued over to the asphalt as the King of the Baggers class – originally slated to be a one-off race at Laguna Seca – became such a hit that MotoAmerica tapped it to become part of select rounds on the calendar. With that, the game was on. Harley struck first, winning the 2021 championship with Kyle Wyman aboard the Screaming Eagle Factory Road Glide. Then, in 2022, Indian struck back, taking the title with Tyler O’Hara aboard the Challenger Bagger. Transforming an Indian Challenger into not only a race bike, but a championship-winning race bike able to fight – and win – against the might of Harley-Davidson is no easy task. Indian teamed up with S&S Cycles to build these bikes, with S&S Head Honcho Jeff Bailey also the Chief Engineer of the project. In terms of the modifications and engineering, these are full-on superbikes. Just in different clothes. Per the rules, the main frame is still stock. The shape of the frame-mounted fairing is also the same but is made from lighter materials. The headlights themselves are gone and a vinyl sticker application gives it the appearance of having the stock lights. And that’s just the start of where the line gets blurred between stock and modified. Transforming an Indian Challenger into not only a race bike, but a championship-winning race bike able to fight – and win – against the might of Harley-Davidson is no easy task. Indian teamed up with S&S Cycles to build these bikes, with S&S Head Honcho Jeff Bailey also the Chief Engineer of the project. In terms of the modifications and engineering, these are full-on superbikes. Just in different clothes. Per the rules, the main frame is still stock. The shape of the frame-mounted fairing is also the same but is made from lighter materials. The headlights themselves are gone and a vinyl sticker application gives it the appearance of having the stock lights. And that’s just the start of where the line gets blurred between stock and modified. Race teams are always coy when talking about what’s under the hood, and Indian’s clever wordplay states that the “core engine” is still retained from stock, but we all know there’s nothing stock about it. For starters, the crankcase main bearings are locked into place to help with reliability. There are custom camshafts, 110mm big bore pistons and cylinders, CNC ported heads, and billet manual lash adjuster rocker arms – and that’s just what the team were willing to tell us. Other than the main bearings being fixed, there’s no word on whether the crankshaft is stock, modified, or different altogether. Race teams are always coy when talking about what’s under the hood, and Indian’s clever wordplay states that the “core engine” is still retained from stock, but we all know there’s nothing stock about it. For starters, the crankcase main bearings are locked into place to help with reliability. There are custom camshafts, 110mm big bore pistons and cylinders, CNC ported heads, and billet manual lash adjuster rocker arms – and that’s just what the team were willing to tell us. Other than the main bearings being fixed, there’s no word on whether the crankshaft is stock, modified, or different altogether. Technically, the swingarm is the stock piece, but it’s been heavily braced and strengthened to cope with the added power and cornering forces being sent through it. Unlike Harley-Davidson, who CNC machined an all-new swingarm out of billet, you can clearly see remnants of the Indian Challenger swingarm still there, under all the bracing. Technically, the swingarm is the stock piece, but it’s been heavily braced and strengthened to cope with the added power and cornering forces being sent through it. Unlike Harley-Davidson, who CNC machined an all-new swingarm out of billet, you can clearly see remnants of the Indian Challenger swingarm still there, under all the bracing. Employing a clever bit of racecraft, the fuel tank is also the stock piece – technically. But it’s been sliced in half down the middle, with a section taken out, and the two sides squished back together. The fuel sender has also been moved from the right side of the tank to the left in order to make space for the air cleaner, the upper tip of which tucks under the tank, and enormous 70mm throttle body sticking out the right side of the engine. For 2023, the air cleaner juts out and forward from the throttle body, relieving the space under the tank. Employing a clever bit of racecraft, the fuel tank is also the stock piece – technically. But it’s been sliced in half down the middle, with a section taken out, and the two sides squished back together. The fuel sender has also been moved from the right side of the tank to the left in order to make space for the air cleaner, the upper tip of which tucks under the tank, and enormous 70mm throttle body sticking out the right side of the engine. For 2023, the air cleaner juts out and forward from the throttle body, relieving the space under the tank. According to Indian, the radiator and transmission are also leftovers from the stock Challenger, though there’s no word as to whether more rows were added to the former to help with cooling. There’s also a quickshifter on the transmission – something conspicuously missing from the Harley.
