Two other bikers were injured in a separate incident the night before, while a Pawtucket biker was killed in Scituate accident (on the same Friday night).

The Pawtucket motorcyclist, Dana R. Zeiner, 51, was killed in a head-on collision with a pickup truck on Tunk Hill Road in Scituate, RI, near Gainer Dam.

According to police, Zeiner crossed the double yellow lines of the road and went into the westbound lane, crashing into the truck. Zeiner was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was uninjured.

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The other motorcycle accident happened a couple of hours later in Middleboro. The two motorcyclist who were injured in the other Friday crash were a stepfather and stepson travelling on their Harley Davidson motorcycles on Old Center Street.

The crash occurred when they came upon a fallen tree, blocking both lanes of the street.  The Harley riders tried to avoid crashing into the tree by laying down their bikes, but the stepfather hit the tree anyway. The stepson crashed, too, while trying to avoid hitting his stepfather.

Both men suffered injuries. The stepfather, Tracy Moquin, 41, was airlifted by a medical helicopter to Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, while his stepson, Joshua Kagiwada, 22, was taken by ambulance to an undisclosed hospital. 

We wish them both a speedy recovery. To the family of Dana Zeiner, we send our deepest condolences and sympathies.

The new models are part of Harley-Davidson’s strategy to attract a wider range of bikers. With the addition of the 3 new models, Harley currently has a lineup of 32 models. Bikers with tastes ranging from traditional to urban can now find a Harley model to fit their idea of a bike.

Fellow motorcyclists having fun at the Sturgis Rally have probably had the chance to see the new bikes which were leunched just ahead of the famous annual motorcycle Sturgis event.

For the rest of us, here’s a short description of each new model.

- 2011 XR1200X

This is Harley’s best model for riders with a taste for European or Japanese motorcycles with high horsepower and sharp handling. It has features like adjustable suspension, floating front brake rotors and an Evolution Engine (also known as the Blockhead). As you can see on the photo above, the XR1200X looks like previous Harley dirt-track racers. Find more info on the new XR on Harley-Davidson’s website.

- Road Glide Ultra

The Road Glide Ultra is designed for the long haul. It has a luggage carrier, vented fairing, anti-lock brakes cruise control and a lowers, ABS (anti-lock braking system), Twin Cam 103 engine, Harley-Davidson Smart Security System, cruise control, tri-line fender lights, and a four-speaker, 80-watt stereo. See more of its features here, and a more in-detail review here.

- SuperLow

The 2011 SuperLow is a great example of the authentic American motorcycle. It has a 4.5 gallon fuel tank, an 883cc Evolution engine, low-bucket seat, plus a new front-end tuned for a combination of comfort and handling that will appeal to a whole range of riders. See more about the new Super Low here.

The Sturgis rally was first held in 1938, organized by the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club as a venue for racing and stunts. It has survived and thrived since then, continuing the tradition every year except for two years during World War II.

Today, the Sturgis rally is a world-famous event drawing an ever-growing number of motorcycle enthusiasts from all over the world.

To see some of this year’s Sturgis rally photos, please click here.

More Sturgis-related stories, here.

Harley-Davidson’s corporate headquearters will remain in Wisconsin – a fact that doesn’t bring much consolation to their employees and Milwakee community, which have seen other corporations leave the state. For example, two years ago the beer giant Miller Brewing Co. moved its headquarters to Chicago in after merging with Molson Coors Brewing Co.

After Schlitz, known as “the beer that made Milwaukee famous” got sold to a Detroit company in the 1980s due to financial and labor problems, Harley-Davidson was left as Milwakee’s only world-famous signature brand bringing tourists and motorcycle lovers to the city.

This may soon change.

The company currently employs 1,630 motorcycle manufacturing employees in Wisconsin.

According to Tom Steepy, a lifelong Harley rider and director of the suburban Milwaukee chapter of the Harley Owners Group (HOG), “If they moved their manufacturing, it would just create a void you can’t fill.”

” They’ve just become the blood of the community,” he said.

News Sources: Washington Times, MSN, AP.

He arrived home to Massachusetts after more than a 15,300 miles journey.

Welcome home, Carlos!!!

We can’t wait to hear all the details about your days on the road.

Now it is and for all the right reasons.

Harley Davidson has joined the fight against breast cancer by launching its Pink Label Collection. This collection includes 12 motorcycle apparel and biker accessory items for women.

Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer among women and the second largest cause of cancer death among women (first among Hispanic women).  Every year, nearly 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and around 40,000 women die from the disease.

What few people know is that men also can contract breast cancer. Breast cancer among women is 100 times more likely but nearly 2000 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year and over 400 men will die from the disease. Celebrities like actor Richard Roundtree and former talk show host Montell Williams are both survivors of breast cancer.

Harley Davidson also recognizes that women are increasingly buying Harley Davidson motorcycles and Harley should in turn support important issues that affect women. From 2003-2007, Harley ownership among women increased by 1%. While this may seem like a small number, this trend represents a potential windfall in years to come.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Pink Label items will benefit Your Shoes 24/7 Breast Cancer Support Center. Your Shoes provides peer support, information, emotional support, and a kind voice to women battling breast cancer. Your Shoes 24/7 Support Center is administered by the Breast Cancer Network of Strength, a national non-profit organization.

Motorcycling has less to do with the bikes and more to do with the people riding them. As more and more women join the biker community, all bikers will have to embrace the issues that are important to women. Breast cancer support is one of those important issues.

This spring, make sure to support breast cancer by purchasing a Pink Label item for a lady in your life; whether she is a biker or not.

Hi, I’m Tom Kiley, and when my buddies and I go riding we always put safety first. Get a free copy of my motorcycle book for some valuable riding tips. And if you or loved one are ever hurt in the Massachusetts area, contact the Kiley Law Group for legal advice from a real motorcycle attorney.

Despite this legacy, Harley Davidson has gotten old.

In post WWII America, young veterans seeking to live on the edge sought Harley Davidson motorcycles as their symbol of rebellion. At this time, an explosion of motorcycle clubs hit the streets from California to Maine. In later decades, movies like The Wild One and Easy Rider cemented Harley Davidson and the biker lifestyle in American culture.

So, how did Harley get old?

Somehow, Harley Davidson failed to capture younger motorcycle riders after the 1970s. As a result, Harley’s customer base is mainly made up of men in their 40s and older. While this customer base is loyal, Harley cannot survive and compete with other motorcycle companies that seem to have more success with younger bikers.

It’s not that Harley Davidson isn’t trying. They have been trying to gain increased brand recognition with the mixed martial arts community as a sponsor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) major events. This organization attracts men from 18-35 and is the fast growing sport in the United States.

But will they buy Harley Davidson motorcycles?

Harley needs to find ways to get younger potential motorcycle buyers to see the value of their motorcycles. Popular TV shows featuring Harley motorcycles like Sons of Anarchy help but they have to be much more proactive. Without an active approach, Harley’s market share will continue to erode.

I’d like to see Harley do more hands on events. I’d like to see them have more free test ride events in conjunction with motorcycle rider safety courses and partnering with more organizations. I think the main issue is that new and younger riders have the wrong impression about Harleys. They probably think that Harleys are too expensive and do no have the performance and reliability of metric cruisers. Test rides will put that feeling to rest.

There are literally thousands of accessories for motorcycles and almost every piece on a bike can be exchanged with an aftermarket item. Here are a few items that would be an excellent addition to any bike:

• HID Headlights: High Intensity Discharge lights provide 300% more light than regular halogen bulbs. This increased light discharge allows for greater forward vision at night and also makes the motorcycle visible to motorists at a greater distance. This increased safety measure is a great way to avoid potential night time accidents. Purchasing and installing a HID motorcycle kits is a smart move.

• LED Lights: Light emitting diode (LED) lights provide greater visibility than regular bulbs. Not only can LED lights be used for rear running lights, brake lights, and turn signals but they can also be used as accent lights. By adding LEDs around your bike, it will have a much bigger visible footprint and will be much more easily seen; especially at night.

• Louder Pipes: For years, bikers have said that loud pipes save lives. While there is very little data to support this claim, one thing is true. Loud pipes can be heard at longer distances than many stock brands; especially on metric cruisers. There are dozens of brands to consider that offer a variety of style, noise level, and performance features.

• Carbon Fiber Helmets: High grade carbon fiber is much tougher that fiber glass and plastic helmets. As a result, they provide more protection at a smaller size. Even some carbon fiber novelty helmets have provided a remarkable level of protection.

• Oil Coolers: For air cooled Harley Davidson motorcycles, keeping the oil between 190 and 230 degrees is critical to keeping the motorcycle operating perfectly. Oil coolers help prevent oil from overheating and potentially damaging critical engine parts. Installing a motorcycle oil cooler can greatly extend the life span of an air cooled motorcycle.

Added to that list are TV shows to watch.

Next year, I am particularly excited about 2 shows that will air next year. 2010 will be another great year for bikers and the promotion of the biker lifestyle.

• Sons of Anarchy, Season 3: Without a doubt, Sons of Anarchy is one of the biggest surprise hits of 2009 and season 2 was a colossal success. Production of season 3 hasn’t started yet but there are already rumors about plot twists, drama, and new enemies for America’s favorite outlaw bikers. Unfortunately, season 3 will not air until the Fall of 2010.

• Motor City Motors: OK, so the first show actually airs on Monday, December 28^th on the Discovery Channel at 9PM EST but I plan on watching episodes in 2010. The motorcycle fabricators from the Detroit Bros. will be taking on weekly custom builds each week making the “run in the mill” into one of a kind.

Get your DVRs ready because 2010 will be a great year for motorcycle programming.

The newest addition to the Dark Custom Line of Harley Davidson motorcycles was created for riders looking for a full sized bike that fits a smaller stature. For men and women under the height of 5’8”, the Fat Boy Lo is as comfortable a bike as you will find.

Like all of the Dark Custom motorcycles, the paint scheme is a beautiful triple black combination of satin black, glossy black, and flat black. This gives the Fat Boy Lo a tough and mean look without lacking any color depth. The Fat Boy Lo has black bullet hole wheels and enough chrome accents to make it eye catching on the boulevard.

The real trick of this bike is the fact that it has the lowest seat height of the entire Harley Davidson line. To achieve a seat height of a mere 24 ¼”, the front and rear suspension had to be lowered by over 1”. Another feature added to make this bike more comfortable for short riders is that the seat is much narrower than the standard Harley seat. This allows the rider’s legs to go downward at a straighter angle.

As for the ride, this bike is pure Harley Davidson. The bike has crisp throttle response, great in turns, quick off the line, and stable on the road. The only disappointment is finding neutral once the bike has warmed up can be a bit of a challenge. For experienced Harley owners this is nothing new. For new Harley owners, this will take some time to adjust.

Overall, the Dark Custom Fat Boy Lo is a great bike that all bikers will love. Shorter riders in particular will love the fact that from the showroom floor, the bike is comfortable and easy to handle. Its curb appeal, handling, stopping power, and comfort make it a great choice. At approximately $16,000, this bike isn’t cheap but it will turn heads as you thunder down the road.

No wonder this bike was rated #1 by Motorcycle.com among 2010 model cruisers.