In over 20 years of writing for HEAVY DUTY Magazine, this is the first time that I’ve written about the big picture rather than focusing on Harleys. So bear with me while I give you my educated guess about the
short-term future…

Perfect 20-20 hindsight doesn’t guarantee perfect 2020 foresight. Last year was a year that Harley basically held its hand close to its chest and only rolled out new colours, needed improvements and cost-saving measures including the five deleted items on the touring range.

Basically, Harley stuck to its 2018 timeline of More Roads with 100 new bikes in the next 10 years. 

In the previous issue of HD, editor Brumby threw down the gauntlet to the Motor Company to meet the challenge of the new Indian Challenger. He succinctly said the “chassis-mounted fairing is the central element of the whole bike” while the Indian PowerPlus 108 V-twin engine “defines this bike.” From what I’ve seen and read I have to say that the Indian Challenger is the complete package … exactly what I was thinking Harley-Davidson has to release as its next generation bagger. Nothing less will see Harley losing its perch as the touring King of the Mountain.

My daughter and son-in-law who live in Scotland surprised my wife and me while we were visiting by taking us to The Davidson Legacy at Netherton Cottage, Aberlemno, Angus, Scotland. There we were given a personal tour by Mike Sinclair of the restored family home of blacksmith Sandy Davidson who with his wife Margaret and their six children emigrated to America in 1857.