More news in brief.
Harley braces for cutbacks
Harley-Davidson has reported that its first quarter earnings for 2008 were down 12.8 per cent on last year, and with no indications that the US market will improve before the end of the year it will probably deliver 27,000 fewer bikes than it did in 2007.
Harley looks set to cut 730 jobs (about 8 per cent of its workforce) despite overseas sales being up 16.8 per cent.
Meanwhile, Yamaha's earnings fell in the first quarter of 2008 by 12 per cent.
Triumph unveil All-Black Triple
Triumph has unveiled a new matte-black version of its naked Speed Triple streetfighter. The moody paint job suits the popular Speed Triple's aggressive, stripped-down looks. The revised Speed Triple gets four-piston, radial- caliper Brembo brakes, Magura tapered bars, an all-new subframe and redesigned multi-spoke wheels.
New book on scootering
A book cataloguing the "Scooter Lifestyle" has just been published. Written by a 25-year scooter veteran, it features interviews with well-known scootering personalities, over 200 colour photographs of award-winning custom scooters, the best-selling scooter models and details of rallies and scootering events.
"I've been involved in the scene since the mid-1980s and wanted to share some of my experiences and help to dispel a few myths," explained the author, Ian Iggy Grainger. Check out www.scooterlifestyle.com