The Harleysite Annual Review 2021 – Part 1
The year 2021 was once again one of the particularly turbulent years that I was able to experience in the last 18 years at Harleysite. Unfortunately, many events were canceled again, whether right or wrong we leave it to be seen, most of them were certainly right, because the economic risks are currently enormous, especially for the organizers. Regardless of whether you hold an event or not, organizers and retailers are currently unprepared.
January 2021
Kolja Rebstock takes on a management position at Harley-Davidson
January 2021 brought a newly filled leadership position at Harley-Davidson . Kolja Rebstock took over the position of Regional Vice President EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Managing Director of the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland).
A very competent manager who has a lot of experience in the automotive industry, having previously held senior positions at Mitsubishi and Daimler-Benz, people at Mitsubishi in particular were not happy that he left the company.
He has now been at Harley-Davidson for a year, he is an asset for Harley-Davidson, the only question is how much you can really have a say in the new direction of the company, even though you have the necessary experience in this industry.
Link to the article: Kolja Rebstock takes over management position at Harley-Davidson !
The date of Mallorca Bike Week 2021 has been announced
At this point, a very bold step. The date for Mallorca Bike Week was announced quite early in January, today we know that the event could take place without any problems just in time before the next C chaos. That was a very successful end to the 2021 season.
The first pictures of the STREET BOB 114 appeared
Shortly before the Harley-Davidson model premiere on January 19th, the first pictures of the Street Bob 114 appeared, which was still a rumor up to that point. Today we know that the Street Bob with its 114 powerful engine is a real hit, she says one of the most popular Softail models anyway.
Link to post: Stree t Bob 114
Driving report – Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited 2020
In January I added a detailed driving report on the Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited.
The Harley-Davidson Tourer with the legendary Batwing fairing combines tradition with modern technology in the 2020 model year.
Even if someone without any great motorcycle ambitions is standing in front of the Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited , it usually only takes one try to guess that a Harley-Davidson is standing in front of them.
Link to the article driving report Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited
Shocking news from the Top Mountain Crosspoint Museum
Top Mountain Crosspoint Motorcycle Museum burned down
The Top Mountain Crosspoint is Europe's highest motorcycle museum . Since opening in 2016, over 230 historic motorcycles and various classic cars have been presented on an area of 3000m².
Link to post: Top Mountain Crosspoint Motorcycle Museum burned down
The new 2021 Harley-Davidson models
The time had come on January 19th, and Harley-Davidson presented the new model range for the first time in January. The interest was so great that the entire Harleysite server was destroyed for hours afterwards. Thanks to an investment in the latest server technology, this will no longer happen in 2022.
Link to article: THE 2021 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MODELS
Harley Davidson Pan America 1250
The year 2021 was the year of Pan America, for the first time Harley-Davidson ventured into the large-volume Enduro/Adventure division. In the end it is almost sold out, if you wanted it with the top equipment you had to be quick or search. In any case, it is a success and, after typical teething problems, it has slowly gained a foothold in the scene.
Dream Machines magazine takes off
The Dream Machines kiosk was ready on January 20th and you can now order your magazine online. After the crowdfunding campaign last year, the magazines Custombike and Dream-Machines have successfully made it through 2021, and increasing subscribers show that there is still a customer base for good magazines.
Link to the Dream Machines report
February 2021
The first event was canceled in February!
The Super Rally 2021 was the first event to fall victim to the pandemic this year. It shouldn't just stay with the Super Rally.
Harley-Davidson welcomes Nils Buntrock as its new marketing manager
Harley-Davidson stepped up its marketing in February. An important personnel change for the company, because marketing has been understaffed for a long time and if you consider that there are Harley-Davidson authorized dealers who employ more people directly in marketing than the company itself, it still doesn't really fit. Nils Buntrock Harley-Davidson marketing in the DACH region for Harley-Davidson since February 2021
Link to article: Harley-Davidson welcomes Nils Buntroc k as its new marketing manager
The European Bike Week is still planned
In 2021, Harley-Davidson definitely wanted to hold the European Bike Week again. Unfortunately, this wish only came true in the very small version.
Bike Week Willingen 2021 has been canceled
The organizers of Bike Week Willingen already knew in February that the event would not take place in 2021 either.
In February the Pan America is already in full focus!
The Harley-Davidson Pan America is the right bike for explorers who like to take a detour - on the road and off-road. The robust, strong and technologically advanced machine quickly wins the rider's trust and awakens his sense of adventure wherever his path takes him.
The link to the Pan America article:
The first final pictures of the Sportster S in February
The first final images of the new Sportster S appeared on February 24th, but it won't be seen on the streets much in 2021.
Sneak Preview Harley-Davidson Sportster S
March 2021
The first Harley-Davidson dealers are reopening their showrooms
A first good sign, on March 5th the first Harley-Davidson dealers in the country opened their showrooms again. That was a good sign for the coming season.
Click&Meet – live streams to various Harley-Davidson dealers
It was a disaster, you didn't really know who had opened their shop or who wasn't allowed to yet. Suddenly Click&Meet came into conversation, one more reason to clarify things, some authorized dealers across the country got in touch via livestream.
Link to the Click&Meet article
Hamburg Harley Days is postponing the date
The Hamburg Harley Days 2021 were still in the running, on March 9th the date was postponed to August, it was agreed that the Harley Days should only take place without a mask.
MOTORCYCLE DRIVING BAN – EMISSION LAWS
The topic of motorcycle driving bans became more prominent on March 11th, and we slowly mobilized.
50 years of Harley-Davidson Super Glide
The Super Glide turned 50 years old in 2021, so it's time to look back on everything.
Link to post
The Magic Bike Rüdesheim 2021 is canceled
So it went on, on March 25th the information came that the Magic Bike Rüdesheim was canceled in 2021.
Harley-Davidson is presenting its own online shop on March 26th
To the displeasure of some Harley-Davidson dealers, the company itself has introduced its new online shop. From today's perspective, something half-hearted, and in these difficult times it is not necessarily appropriate for the company to go into direct marketing itself, even if authorized dealers receive a commission.
APRIL 2021
Harley-Davidson Low Rider S Tuning – 131cui Stage IV
My first driving report this year and then such a rocket! The Low Rider S is the hottest Harley-Davidson I've ever ridden. Such great driving dynamics, nothing more is possible!
Link to the Low Rider S 131 driving report
The FXDR 114 was dropped from the program
In the 2021 model year, Harley-Davidson no longer found space for the FXDR 114 and it was discontinued. Its most recent price was €21,995 and is basically a good template for customizing, because there are enough parts and now perhaps even in abundance. Its purchase price was too high for customizing enthusiasts, otherwise it's a cool bike.
On the Pan America for the first time on April 11th
At the beginning of April it finally started, the Pan America was officially presented, two days of full throttle in the Stoffel Park, a very cool experience! And I could really see what she was capable of, I'm still thrilled with her to this day!
The dispute over punitive tariffs is escalating
On April 20th, Harley-Davidson announced that they wanted to sue against the punitive tariffs, and today we know that this story is finally over.
40 years of Harley-Davidson GmbH
The history of the brand in Germany goes back more than 95 years and in 1981 Harley-Davidson was entered into the German commercial register as a GmbH. On April 22nd, Harley-Davidson GmbH turned 40 years old.
𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆-𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻-𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗵𝗿
This was a very complex contribution, anyone who is interested in how a modern Harley-Davidson dealer is set up will be interested in this film!
On April 26th, Harley-Davidson will conjure up the first model from the ICON series.
The surprise was big, everyone kept it tight, and the new Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Revival was presented for the first time on April 26th. But the worst thing was that the models intended for the German market were already in the country and were delivered to the dealers the following week. The campaign was really cool!
The HOG RALLY PORTOROZ SLOVENIA 2021 has been canceled
April ends with bad news again with the report from April 30th. I know that the Harley-Davidson leadership wanted to do everything they could to make the HOG Rally take place, but unfortunately that wasn't possible, so the rally has been postponed to 2022.
May 2021
First demo in Nuremberg with over 6000 participants
The first major demonstration against planned motorcycle driving bans took place in Nuremberg. With over 6000 motorcycles it was a good start!
Harleysite calls to show the flag against the planned motorcycle driving bans!
On May 2nd it was time to show the flag. There was a banner on Facebook to show in your profile picture that you are against the planned motorcycle driving bans and route closures. Pure madness, almost 7000 likes and the call was shared almost 3000 times. I can't say how many people installed the banner, but in any case the campaign was well received and we have to get even stronger in 2022!!
On May 12th, Harley-Davidson announced that LiveWire would become an independent brand
Harley-Davidson has outsourced the LiveWire electric motorcycle and turned LiveWire into its own brand. Harley-Davison owns over 70% of this project.
According to the motto, together we can make a difference! We fight for our freedom!
Harleysite also supported the petition from the Association of Harley-Davidson Authorized Dealers against the punitive tariffs. By September, over 13,000 signatures had been collected.
JUNE 2021
The first Pan America models will arrive at authorized dealers at the beginning of July
Something was finally happening again for the HD authorized dealers, Pan America deliveries to customers finally started.
On June 6th we went traveling again for the first time
On June 6th we went south to the Algarve. Catch the sun in Portugal and experience something new on the 6th Algarve Run with SKS trips. That was really good again after the long pandemic.
Hamburg Harley Days 2021 canceled on June 8th
Contrary to all expectations, the Hamburg Harley Days 2021 have been canceled. It was not possible to get firm commitments from the authorities, as the Harley Days can take place without a mask requirement according to previously agreed guidelines. A Harley Days masquerade was unimaginable, so the event was canceled.
Second test drive in the Algarve this year
The Road Glide Special 2021 showed itself at its best on the roads of Portugal. The curves and passes are her territory, accelerating out of the curve with the torque puts her in a great mood.
The first KessTech Euro 5 systems were delivered on June 17th
New Euro standards, new game, the flap exhaust systems have to be adapted to the required standard every time. On June 17th the time had come for the first KessTech customers.
On June 21st the Sportster S presentation was announced
Harley-Davidson announces the international presentation “From Evolution to Revolution”.
The first real Harleysite test ride of 2021
I subjected the Fat Boy 114, in the color Deadwood Green, to some long-distance testing.
The new Harleysite APP was launched on June 29th.
Many of you have asked me again and again, where has the Harleysite APP gone? There were new technical specifications from Google and Apple that the old APP no longer met. I then spared no expense and launched a new one. You already have thousands of them installed on your cell phones, thank you for using it while it's already there.
Downloads Apple App Store / Google Play Store
The second part comes New Year's Day!
