Harley-Davidson To Make Trikes
Harley-Davidson is beefing up its hogs. The motorcycle maker has announced it will begin making three-wheelers, also known as trikes, in partnership with Lehman Trikes U.S.A.
Lehman, based in Spearfish, S.D., just miles from the home of the world-renown Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, already converts motorcycles made by Harley and other manufacturers into trikes, but the new line will be branded as Harley-Davidson and sold through Harley's dealer network.
Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. did not release further details about the new bikes or when they would be released. Spokesman Bob Klein said he expected the trikes would be priced similarly to other brands on the market.
The company has made three-wheelers before, such as for police and commercial use, but this venture with Lehman will be different, said H-D spokesperson Bob Klein. Harley is recognizing that more and more riders are interested in riding trikes, which have the look and feel of two-wheeled motorcycles but with a little more stability.
Klein said that while at the popular Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota in August he saw people of all ages and backgrounds riding trikes. "We've observed that trikes are becoming a popular phenomenon and we think that they'll appeal to a variety of customers," Klein said.
Harley's move to trikes will also expand the brand's appeal to an aging market, where according to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation the average rider's age has jumped from an average 28.5 years old in 1985 to 40.2 years old in 2003.
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