From a breast cancer awareness race in Chicago to a biker boot camp in Milwaukee, there’s a wide variety of biker events to sign up for to support women from all walks—and rides—of life. On May 14, it’s Women’s Ride Day and Harley-Davidson is getting the word out to all women bikers to take some time to take a ride that day.

Harley-Davidson dealerships around the country are participating in this month-long celebration, so contact your local dealer for details or go to Harley-Davidson’s website for all of the details you’ll need on Women Riders Month.

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.

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.

Erickson was the CEO and president of the company his father founded, Erickson Oil Products / Freedom Valu Centers.

The motorcycle accident occurred as he was driving his 2009 Harley-Davison on a winding two-lane road (Bridger Canyon Road) when the motorcycle drifted off the right edge of the roadway on a curve, went down a steep embankment and struck some boulders, Montana Highway Patrol officer said. The crash happened north of the Bridger Bowl ski area.

Erickson was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His wife, Debi, who was riding with him, suffered a broken leg. According to police, they were both wearing helmets, and alcohol and speed were not factors in the accident.

Erickson’s sister Nancy died in a similar way in a car-accident in 1974 when her car went off the road and plunged over a 400-foot cliff. 

David Erickson is survived by his wife and three children, Ashley, Bradley and Grady. We offer sincere sympathies to his family for their tragic loss.

News Sources: Hastings Star Gazette, Twin Cities.

Peter Lombardo, 37, of Gardner, Mass. sustained fatal injuries in the crash after he lost control of his motorcycle and struck a guardrail on Route 56 near Pleasant Street in Leicester. Officers who first arrived on the scene performed CPR on Lombardo and he was rushed to St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester, but he was soon pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.

Lombardo was accompanied by a fellow motorcyclist who was charged with drunken driving.

According to news reports, Lombardo was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle northbound on Route 56 Saturday afternoon when the accident occurred.

He fell off the Harley in the crash and suffered serious injuries to his upper body and his head. His motorcycle continued to slide and was found about 200 yards from the point of impact.

Tragically, Peter Lombardo lost his life in this accident. He was found without wearing a helmet. However, there were two helmets already on the ground when police arrived. They probably belonged to Lombardo and the his friend.

The other motorcyclist, Harley Ellis, also of Gardner, was charged with drunk driving, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and speeding. He was on a separate motorcycle, and according to police his charges were not related to the crash.

The accident remains under police investigation.

We are saddened by this fatal accident and offer our sincerest condolences to the family of Peter Lombardo, his friends, and fellow motorcyclists.

7/19 – As of 3:30pm Carlos is approx 300 miles away from the US Border and his goal is to make it there tonight. Not only did he lose a credit card early on in the begining of the Challenge, he has now lost his toiletry bag! Wonder what he’s going to lose next….stay tuned!

7/19 (later that day)- Carlos is back in the USA! He had a very long 500+mile ride mostly in the rain today. Next destination is the Harley Museum in Milwaukee, WI, that will be approx 1500 miles of traveling.

7/20 – Carlos is now in North Dakota. He traveled approx 600 miles today, getting closer to the Museum!  He is going to stop off and get a tire for the bike at the next HD Dealership he finds. 

7/21 – Carlos got his tire first thing this morning and started motoring along. He found the Geographical Center of North America in Rugby, ND today! He is already 2/3rds of the way through Minnesota on his way to Milwaukee.

7/22 – Carlos thanks the Service guys at Roughrider HD in Minot, ND for scraping together a few bucks for gas money. Also, a thanks to the retired doctor who gave Carlos $20 at the BP station tonight.

Carlos at the Geographical Center of North America in Rugby, ND

Carlos, who is a Marine Corps veteran and a Lawrence Detective, was riding to raise awareness for Homeless Veterans. He travelled over 7,500 miles on his Harley Davidson motorcycle from Florida cross-country to Alaska and reached Homer on July 3rd – just in time for the Fourth of July fireworks. More detailed bits of info about his amazing journey can be found on his blog.

Those who want to see Carlos’ progress on the map can do so here.

Carlos is currently travelling to fulfill a personal challenge. He is on a mission to reach the Arctic Circle, then travel south all the way to Tijuana, Mexico, then back home to Massachusetts.

Stay tuned as we post updates on Carlos’ journey, which began on July 5th. According to the map of his travels on SpotAdventure.com, Carlos is near the Canadian border today.

You can also Follow Carlos Home.

Sinead M. Lovett, 29, of Braintree, was riding on the back of a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by her boyfriend, Richard Migliacci, 37, of Somerville. Police said he crashed it into a curb on Route 28 South (police are still investigating the cause).

Both Lovett and Migliacci were transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment, but it was too late for Lovett. She was pronounced dead at MGH. Migliacci suffered brain damage, kidney and bladder failure, a fractured hip and his stomach was torn open, and he underwent surgery the same night. He is expected to make a full recovery.

He is now in a “fair” condition, a Media Relations Officer for MGH said. Migliacci is doing better, but his mother says, “emotionally he’s suffering”. She said, “He had to be sedated when he found out she died,” the Patriot Ledger reported yesterday.

According to his mother, Migliacci told her that he struggled to maneuver around cars and hit a road island. This story is particularly sad since Lovett and Migliacci had been together for a year, and the fatal crash was their first motorcycle trip they had in a while. Both were wearing helmets, but the impact of the crash was too strong for both of them to survive it. At least one life was saved, perhaps thanks to a helmet.

We are deeply saddened by this unfortunate accident. Our hearts and condolences go out to Sinead Lovett’s family and friends, and we sincerely sympathize with Richard Migliacci for his loss.

6/29 – Carlos is now in Canada and he has little to no cell coverage so we are going to rely upon SPOT to tell us how he is doing.

6/30 – Carlos is making progress on miles this morning.  He is approx 1700 miles away from Homer, Alaska right now and is still expecting to be here on Friday night.

More updates can be found on HokaHeyChallengerCarlos.com.

Loud Pipes Save Lives

Photo taken on June 25 in Utah

6/25  – Carlos & Willie have hit the 3rd checkpoint!!   They are grabbing some food, getting an oil change and hitting the road.  Next stop is 1351.6 miles at Montana Harley Davidson in Missoula MT.  So far they have traveled approx 4300 miles in 6 days!…

6/27 – Carlos broke down, tranny leak and no oil pressure just after the Bad Lands. He is fixed now and is sitting at the Rapid City, SD Dealership waiting for them to open in the morning to have them double check everything.

6/28 – Welcome to day 9 of the Challenge. Next stop Fairbanks, AK.

To follow Carlos on the map, please click here.