Hang on tight
Harley-Davidson caps off wild summer with 115th anniversary party
It’s been a wild ride for Harley-Davidson this summer as the world’s largest manufacturer of heavyweight motorcycles was scolded by President Donald Trump, then unveiled new bikes, and now is celebrating its 115th anniversary in Milwaukee.
That’s a lot to take in, but for this week anyway, Harley is doubling down on the bikes and the riders who have fueled the company’s spirit for generations.
Wednesday, the 115th anniversary party got underway shortly after 4 p.m. at Veterans Park, with a military skydiving show, fireworks and opening remarks from some of the Davidson family — heirs to company cofounder William A. Davidson.
“I think we’re all here to celebrate, whether you’re from Milwaukee, Perth, Paris, L.A. or Green Bay. Welcome to Milwaukee, everybody,” said Karen Davidson, great-granddaughter of William A. Davidson.
There are parties all week at Milwaukee-area Harley dealerships as part of their Milwaukee Rally. A few of the 115th events, between now and Sunday night, include:
Lakefront Moto-Carnival: This free party at Veterans Park has motorcycle thrill shows, helicopter rides, a Ferris wheel, a bike-building competition and more. It runs noon to 11 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Walker’s Point Motorcycle Alley: There’s a party going on in Walker’s Point, on South Fifth Street south of West Virginia Street, from noon to midnight Friday and Saturday. In addition to music and libations, there’ll be BMX and skate demos and more.
Beach Brawl: Harley says it’s the first time in more than 100 years for bike races on a sandy oval along the shore of Lake Michigan. They’ll be at Bradford Beach, 2400 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive, practicing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and racing from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday. The beach and the tiki bars will be open, too.
Flat Out Friday: That crazy flattrack bike race, in which motorcycles compete on a Dr Pepper-covered indoor track, revs up at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. The competition starts at 7 p.m. Friday at the arena,
400 W. Kilbourn Ave. Tickets are $18.
As riders from around the world pour into Milwaukee for the anniversary party, one thing they’ll do after putting down the kickstand and finding a place to party is put politics and other divisive issues aside.
When you’re hanging out with other bikers, whether they own a Harley or a Honda, none of those things matters, said Gary Radmer, a Harley rider from Slinger.
“We don’t talk about religion, politics or finances,” he said. “It’s about the ride and the experiences. It’s about eating ice cream, going out to dinner, riding, taking pictures, meeting other people.”
In late June, Radmer and his wife, Wendy Radmer, went to Prague in the Czech Republic for the European version of Harley’s 115th anniversary party.
There, at a Harley dealership, they made new friends from Italy, the Netherlands and China. Now their friend from China is coming to Milwaukee for the 115th anniversary party.
While a 115th Harley anniversary tee shirt costs $25, and a Milwaukee Rally Gold pass costs $100, making friends from overseas is priceless, Radmer said.
When the Radmers were in Prague, Trump escalated his scolding of HarleyDavidson for its plans to move some of its production overseas.
The president threatened to increase taxes on the iconic brand, which he said had lost its aura.
“A Harley-Davidson should never be built in another country — never!” Trump tweeted. “Their employees and customers are already very angry at them. If they move, watch, it will be the beginning of the end — they surrendered, they quit! The Aura will be gone and they will be taxed like never before!”
Yet as Harley said it was moving the production of motorcycles destined for Europe to a factory overseas — in response to the European Union’s steep retaliatory tariffs on U.S.-made bikes — some European Harley owners said it didn’t matter to them, so long as the quality of the bikes didn’t suffer.
For years, the company has used Showa-brand suspension components from Japan. Brake and clutch parts have come from Italy, wheels from Australia and electronics from across Asia. And Harley has a goal of growing its international business to 50 percent of its sales. The brand already resonates overseas.
“I am fortunate, and I have been very blessed, that my husband is a U.S. diplomat — so we move to a new country every three years. But, by having a Harley, I always have an immediate community,” said Renee Kane, from Guatemala, who is in Milwaukee for the 115th.
In the U.S., Harley-Davidson has increased its efforts to attract new generations to the brand as more Americans age out of riding and fewer young people step up to take their place.
In late July, the company announced new midsize bikes, including its first adventure touring model capable of offhighway use. The company also reaffirmed its plan to launch its first electric motorcycle in 2019.
A key step was revealed this summer when the company said it would partner with an Asian manufacturer, yet unnamed, to build smaller, less expensive bikes for customers in India.
“This is one of those key moments in our history where bold action needs to be taken to assure our future,” CEO Matt Levatich said during a conference call.
One of the new bikes coming from Harley, in 2020, is a “StreetFighter” model that’s likely to appeal to young, urban riders. Previous generations “drove Harley’s business to the moon,” said Todd Berlin, sales manager at Suburban Harley-Davidson in Thiensville.
“My dad is 92, and he welcomes these young people. He loves coming to the dealership and talking with them,” Berlin said.
One of those young riders is Keona Omdall, 22, of Milwaukee.
A senior at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee studying design and visual communications, she just bought her first Harley: a 2018 Sportster.
“I have always been around motorcycles, ever since I was a little girl. My grandpa had me on the back of his Harley when I was about 6,” Omdall said.
Her grandfather, James Omdall, died six years ago and left Omdall a bike. But she’s not quite ready to ride that big motorcycle yet, so she bought the Sportster to get started.
Having just completed her training for a motorcycle license, she’s a little nervous about getting on the highway.
“But I have the confidence in myself to be the best rider I can be. And I feel like my grandpa is protecting me and watching over me,” she said.