We already know that Sturgis 2020 Rally is still going ahead for dates of Aug. 7th-16th although COVID-19 is still persisting here in the states. The Sturgis City Council approved the event on Monday 6/16/2020 which means in less than a month bikers will be rolling into the bike rally. So between now and then, AMERiders will give you information on the goings-on, and what will be happening at the Sturgis 2020 Rally as we always do. We also are going to give you an update on H-D’s ‘Rewire’ plan.
For the past 6 years, Indian has supported the VCR’s ride to Sturgis. The sixth annual Veterans Charity Ride to Sturgis will start on July 29, 2020, in Moab, Utah. Indian Motorcycle is supporting participants once again, providing a variety of Indian Motorcycle models to ride over the course of the two-week event.
A total of 15 veterans will be participating, with nine new and six returning veterans who will operate in a mentor capacity to new members of the group. They’ll be riding a range of Indian Motorcycles outfitted with Rekluse auto clutches, as well as custom-built Champion sidecars for amputee and paraplegic veterans. It’s a journey of mind-cleansing and the kind of therapy only a good, long motorcycle ride can provide.
The 2020 ride is a bit different than previous VCR events, and not only because of the current global pandemic. This year, VCR is emphasizing a “service before self” initiative, which will also bring personal protective equipment to COVID-19 first responders along the way, as well as host socially-distanced barbecues at select stops for those first responders.
“During these extraordinary times, getting our veterans out of the house and supporting them with the liberating power of motorcycle therapy is more important than ever,” said Dave Frey, U.S. Army Veteran and Veterans Charity Ride Founder. “To be able to combine those efforts and honor our selfless and invaluable first responders during this unprecedented pandemic makes this journey even more gratifying. In light of COVID-19, we will be implementing necessary precautions to stay safe and healthy, as we come together to heal and support one another on our ride to the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.”
VCR and Indian Motorcycle state that they’ll be following strict safety and sanitary guidelines every step of the way to keep all participants on the ride and at their tour stops healthy and well. You can find out more and support VCR’s efforts at their website.
Harley-Davidson’s ‘Rewire’ plan isn’t what some of us thought.
Harley-Davidson, the storied and struggling Milwaukee-based company that last year launched its first production electric motorcycle in an effort to reboot sales and appeal to a younger customer base, is cutting 700 jobs from its global operations. About 500 workers will be laid off before the end of the year, the company said 7/9/2020.
The company’s CFO John Olin is also out, effective immediately. Harley-Davidson’s current VP Treasurer Darrell Thomas has taken over as interim CFO until a successor is appointed. “Significant changes are necessary, and we must move in new directions,” Harley-Davidson chairman, president, and new CEO Jochen Zeitz said in a statement.
Harley-Davidson has branded its job cuts and restructuring plan “The Rewire,” which Zeitz spoke about in the company’s first-quarter earnings call back in April. At the time, Zeitz said the company was still committed to its other strategic plan known as “More Roads” that aimed to make the manufacturer an accessible, global brand through marketing and dealership initiatives and a series of new products that included small-displacement motorcycles for Asia markets and EVs, starting with the LiveWire.
Still, Zeitz declared back in April it was time for a change.
“As a result of my observations and assessment, I’ve concluded that we need to take significant actions and rewire the company now in terms of priorities, execution, operating model and strategy to drive sustained profit and long-term growth,” he said in April. “We are calling it The Rewire. And it’s our playbook for the next few months, leading to a new five-year strategic plan, which we will share when visibility to the future returns.”
Visibility into the future has apparently returned, and in Harley-Davidson’s view it’s time to cut costs and possibly get back to its core products. Initial Rewire actions are expected to result in restructuring costs of about $42 million in the second quarter of 2020, Harley-Davidson said in its announcement Thursday. The company plans to share a summary of The Rewire, including additional costs and expected savings, when it releases its Q2 results. The Rewire will set the foundation for a new 2021-2025 strategic plan, which is expected to be shared in the fourth quarter.
Harley-Davidson has seen its sales drop in recent years in the U.S., its largest market, as its core Baby Boomer customers have gotten older. The COVID-19 pandemic dampened sales further and the company has already cut back production, which resulted in dozens of job cuts last month at its factories in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. The push into EVs and products for Asian countries aimed to expand into new markets and breathe new life into Harley-Davidson.
Well then I guess the ‘Rewire’ meant a rewire like rewiring a bike or something electrical not giving us something new and improved. We will just have to see what comes of this. As for Sturgis 2020 we look forward to giving you more information next week. Have a good weekend.
~And as always…
~Live Free Ride Hard~
~AMERiders
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Let AMERiders keep you up to date with information on the Sturgis 2020, the 6th Annual Veterans Charity Ride & H-D’s ‘Rewire’ Plan.
And as always don’t forget to send us your stories, pictures, and events for posting to GALLERY.AMERIDERS @ GMAIL.COM and we will post them for you. The more people that know about your event the better and we are offering free advertising. We would also love to hear about your rides and love to see those bikes so send those stories and pictures.
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