Harley-Davidson Donates Bikes to Haiti Relief

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

RSS

Font:

Email a Friend

*Email Addresses (up to 5):

Personal Message:

*Your Name:

*Your Email Address:

Send me a copy of this email

* Indicates a required field

Email addresses will only be used to send this message. They will not be used for promotional purposes. See our Privacy Policy.

Harley-Davidson announced it will donate 28 new Buell and Harley-Davidson motorcycles to assist with earthquake disaster relief and stabilization efforts in Haiti. The motorcycles are being shipped from Motor Company facilities to the

The Bar & Shield is doing its part by donating 28 motorcycles to help in the relief efforts in Haiti.

Dominican Republic, where Harley-Davidson dealership organization MagnaMotors will facilitate direct delivery to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.

"Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this devastating disaster in Haiti," said Rod Copes, Sr. Vice President of International Sales, Marketing and Business Development for Harley-Davidson. "As the relief and stabilization efforts continue, motorcycles can often offer a higher degree of maneuverability and access than other types of vehicles."

The motorcycles will remain in Haiti as a permanent donation to the government.

Cruiser News Headlines

More Cruiser Motorcycle News

View all articles by Press Release
View all articles in Cruiser Industry News

Comments

thivantha -bike lover May 16, 2010 02:40 AM
im thivantha from sri lanka ::::::::: ilove HD bike........... sri lankans love Hd. god bless u

viking1302 -Haven't they suffered enough? February 8, 2010 10:26 AM
HAhahaha wow just what they need....

Jerry's kids -Tax write off February 8, 2010 02:44 AM
Can't sell the bikes. Donate and take a tax write off for corpaorate HD. Who knows, maybe they will sell more t-shirts over there now... Oh, wait, that's where they make the shirts.

Rex -Good for HD February 7, 2010 04:59 AM
Look folks, Im not a fan of the MoCo at all, And I have riden most of their bikes, Not all but most, The Buells will help in most situations because of their limber dinamicks but the big bulky bikes wont leave the parking lot.the sporty would do well as it will munover well through the rubbel. But the big bikes are to low to the ground and long turning ratious. Now the people who will be riding may beable to ride scooters well, will in fact have a hard time with any of these bikes. And some of the releaf workers may know how to ride them but not likly. Ill give HD props for sending them down but in the same breath (I know time are tough) Cash would have been better. And pleas excuse any spelling misshaps

MOrvegil -New "Buells" February 5, 2010 11:43 AM
Lol!?!?!?

Hey HD, -nice, thanks February 5, 2010 09:49 AM
HD, like many bike companies, is cash poor right now. So they gave what they have, inventory. Good for them. Crapping on that because you don't like the guy on your street who rides a Harley is really low class and juvenile.

B B -real February 5, 2010 09:48 AM
How does I disagreeing with you make me a Harley hater? You even agree dual sports would be useful in some missions. We still don’t know what type of Harley or Buell they sent so you are going on a guess.

Real -BB February 5, 2010 07:16 AM
"It’s clear you never rode off road..."
Really, I guess racing a CR250 and a CR500 doesn't count as off road? How about my Rev-3... do you even know what that is? Quick do a google search before you respond. Those are all excellent off road bikes and none of them would be very good a riot control...

I expect few of you really know anything about maintaining civil order and are just mis-applying your basic motorcycle knowledge to what is a public safety management situation not a pleasure riding trip. Crowd control has little to do with lap times.

There certainly are missions in Haiti where a little dual sport would be better, but the claim that none of the Harleys or Buells have any good application there is just ignorant... but some of you are so blinded by your silly dislike for HD that you just can't accept that.

B B -Real February 4, 2010 07:06 PM
“FLHs have excellent low speed maneuverability and cargo carrying capacity”. How do you know they sent a FLH? The press release says 28 Harleys and Buells. “They also have an authoritative presence which can have an influence on situations”. These people are desperate and some are down right criminal so how is a shinny motorcycle going to influence them? Hell, they will probably try to steal them. “Police forces use them in that role effectively every day” They’re not dealing with every day situations in Haiti right now. “It's clear many of you have never ridden these bikes and have no clue about their low speed maneuverability”. It’s clear you never rode off road because if you did you would realize low speed maneuverability is not the issue but lack of existing roads is.

Mitch -Friend-give Haitians a little credit February 4, 2010 05:45 PM
Friend I don't think you give the Haitians much credit by assuming they will cower in the presence of shiny chrome and a throaty engine note. They don't watch biker movies or are exposed to motorcycle advertising like us so when they see a cruiser coming they don't perceive authority or a bad-ass. They see a cop or city official that has substantially limited mobility and range over the damaged roads (assuming it is even a paved one) & rough terrain of Haiti. Most SuperCubs would likely run circles around you as you hobbled though dirt and rubble. As stated before it is obvious duel sport bikes and even some types of scooters are the practical choice for that environment. Light weight, mobility, fuel efficiency, ease of use, versatility, multi-terrain capability, reliability, and 1-2/3 the price of an HD. Witch is why the UN will likely sell the hogs and use the money for usefull means. Witch don't get me wrong was nice of MoCo to facilitate. But even though it might not have pleased the PR department in Milwaukee as much, wouldn't it have been easier for all parties involved to just shake hands and pose over a giant novelty check?

Friend -Harleys may be the best choice here February 4, 2010 02:34 PM
Many aspects of the job in Haiti involve dangerous crowd control situations. Many of the professionals tasked with getting a handle on those situations will prefer a big, intimidating bike when passing through those crowds. Such situations are not the time for a lithe bike and colorful racer boy riding gear. Controlling a potentially dangerous and desperate crowd is nothing like going for a fun trail ride and different tools are required.

Real -HDs will work fine there February 4, 2010 01:50 PM
Harleys will work fine in Haiti just like they work fine for traffic cops weaving through grid lock to get to traffic accidents. FLHs have excellent low speed maneuverability and cargo carrying capacity. They also have an authoritative presence which can have an influence on situations. They're fantastic bikes for getting through crowds and getting a handle on bad situations. Police forces use them in that role effectively every day. It's clear many of you have never ridden these bikes and have no clue about their low speed maneuverability.

Geoff -Cargo February 4, 2010 12:10 PM
The ship or plane would be better served if it carried a cargo full of clean water, first aid, and supplies rather than some bikes. What are they going to do with these bikes. If you saw any footage of the disaster you would see most people are getting around in small bikes and scooters. So two wheeled transportation is not in short supply but the other things are. This is great Harley wants to help but cold hard cash (which is what most other companies are doing)would help best. GM didn't send Corvettes and Cadillacs, they sent $$$.

Roger -Good Job Harley February 4, 2010 06:02 AM
Thanks HD. You give what you have

Thumpee -ignorant children February 4, 2010 05:51 AM
This thread just proves what a bunch of misinformed, bitter children the Harley haters are.

Nicky -Uses for Harleys in Haiti... February 3, 2010 03:47 PM
I think you are being a little short sighted Marcial. If they can find at least a good mile stretch of undamaged pavement they can have an official bike night every thursday in Port-au-Prince! I think that could help lift some spirits in the capital right. Who said Harley wasn't thinkin' ;).

Bo -Smooooth Mooove February 3, 2010 03:10 PM
Well Harley can’t give the bikes away here for half price so why not just give them away entirely and get some PR out of it. This kind of PR would cost 5 times the amount they would get for the bikes anyways. Harley just clipped two birds with one stone. After all, Harley is an expert at marketing.

Marcial -It's the thought that counts... February 3, 2010 03:05 PM
There is an old saying "It's the thought that counts" but maybe somebody at HD could have spent their second thought considering how heavy cruisers and track bikes are going to help people with rubble and dirt for roads and a fuel and parts shortage. Maybe as a gesture of solidarity with the Haitian people Arctic Cat will send 30 snow-mobiles there way as well!

MC1 -whiners February 3, 2010 12:30 PM
Amazing... some people just have to find a way to put HD down no matter what...

Matt -appriciative but confused February 3, 2010 10:27 AM
I would have to agree this makes good press for MoCo but when your dealing with a terrain that was rough even before a major earthquake witch has limited fuel resources and dependent on shipments from cargo planes with strict weight limits wouldn't it have been more usefull to donate the equivilant $$$ to the relief fund so they could buy the proper equiptment rather then sending them overstock?

reader -put this on the home page February 3, 2010 04:28 AM
This story should be on the home page, not in the cruiser section. It's not really about criusers and its' the kind of story that deserves broader attention.

Thanks -Harley February 3, 2010 04:23 AM
That's nice. (and you gotta be a real loser to use this story to take shots at Harley).

milwaukee mike -blkes to haiti February 2, 2010 06:06 PM
Bless HD for their generosity. Great PR move on the Motor Company's part.

Alex -Nice but Dual-Sports would be Better February 2, 2010 01:48 PM
This is a nice overture on HD's part but wouldn't dual sport/dirt bikes be more useful in Haiti? You'd not only have more maneuverability but better fuel economy and reliability. How about Kawasaki donate a fleet of KLR650 (3 for the price of one Harley) or KLX250's (4 for the price of one Harley).