Milwaukee (June 24, 2010) - Harley-Davidson will share the road with its customers this summer when Motor Company executives and employees enjoy the ride from the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee to Sturgis, S.D. for the 70th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

The Harley-Davidson Ride to Sturgis starts in Milwaukee with Bike Night at the Harley-Davidson Museum on Thursday, August 5 then journeys through the heart of the Midwest and Black Hills stopping at eight Harley-Davidson dealerships and landing in Sturgis on Tuesday, August 10.

Harley-Davidson executives scheduled to ride from Milwaukee to Sturgis include CEO Keith Wandell, President and COO Matt Levatich, SVP and Chief Styling Officer Willie G. Davidson, Vice President of the Harley-Davidson Museum Bill Davidson and SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Mark-Hans Richer. Harley-Davidson riders and customers are welcome to join the ride and relax with the groups at various stops and dealer events.

"We've enjoyed riding many miles with our customers over the years," said Bill Davidson. "Riding from the Harley-Davidson Museum in our hometown of Milwaukee to Sturgis in the heart of the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota continues a tremendous tradition while giving us the chance to meet new friends along the way."

The schedule (subject to change) of events for the Harley-Davidson Ride to Sturgis is as follows:

• Thursday, August 5: 5:45 p.m. - Bike Night at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee
• Friday, August 6: 7:30 a.m. - Riders pancake breakfast and depart from Harley-Davidson Museum
  • 10 a.m. - Capital City Harley-Davidson, Madison, Wis.
  • 2 p.m. - Bala’s Harley-Davidson, Mauston, Wis.
  • 5:45 p.m. - La Crosse Area Harley-Davidson, La Crosse, Wis.
• Saturday, August 7: 8:30 a.m. - Rochester Harley-Davidson, Rochester, Minn.
  • 11:15 a.m. - Mankato, Harley-Davidson, Mankato, Minn.
  • 5:30 p.m. - J&L Harley-Davidson, Sioux Falls, S.D.
• Sunday, August 8: 3:30 p.m. - Peterson Harley-Davidson, Pierre, S.D.
• Monday, August 9: 2:30 p.m. - Black Hills Harley-Davidson, Rapid City, S.D.
• Tuesday, August 10: 2 p.m. - Harley-Davidson Motor Company riders arrive in Sturgis with the 10th Annual Dakota Thunder Motorcycle Run followed by a moving veteran's tribute and B-1 fly-by over Main Street.

In addition to the Ride to Sturgis, Harley-Davidson will be hosting free events at two all-new locations in the heart of Sturgis this year. Visit 3rd and Lazelle streets from Friday, Aug. 6 through Saturday, Aug. 14 for the Harley-Davidson Road Tour featuring the newly released 2011 Harley-Davidson motorcycles, other Harley-Davidson products and H.O.G. members-only pin stop. Demo rides for the 2011 Harley-Davidson motorcycles will be available in Sturgis near Interstate 90 at Exit 30 beginning Saturday, Aug. 7 through Friday, Aug. 13.

For the most up-to-date information on Harley-Davidson events at the 2010 Sturgis Rally, please visit www.h-d.com/sturgis.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson's Web site at www.harley-davidson.com.

Congressional Motorcycle Safety caucus urges riders to participate in Ride to Work Day

From a press release issued by the Motorcycle Industry Council

Washington, D.C., June 18 – In an open letter to motorcyclists the Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus (CMSC) Co-chairs, U.S. Representatives Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Gabrielle Giffords, with Caucus Members John Duncan (R-TN), Bob Filner (D-CA) and Walter Jones (R-NC) urged riders to participate in the annual Ride to Work Day on June 21 and encouraged riders and other road users to focus on safety. Ride to Work Day encourages employers, government officials and the general public to be more aware that riders come from all occupations and walks of life and that riding motorcycles and scooters is a social good.

The Members state in the letter, “This year, on June 21, more than a million riders will commute to work on their motorcycles. This annual event offers motorcyclists an opportunity to highlight motorcycles as a viable, fun and fuel-efficient mode of transportation. We encourage you to participate and to use the day as a reminder to get involved in motorcycle safety.”

The letter encouraged riders to get involved and to do their part to help grow the Caucus, “Please help us…by contacting your Member of Congress and encouraging him or her to join the Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus (CMSC). Information about your Representative and how to get in touch can be found by visiting http://www.house.gov/.”

The Caucus Members also noted that Ride to Work Day provides an opportunity to remind other road users of their role in motorcycle safety. “Our Caucus encourages drivers of cars, SUVs and other vehicles to be aware of motorcycles and to look out for motorcyclists. In over two thirds of fatal car-motorcycle crashes the driver of the car was at fault, making it very important that our audience is broader than just those who ride.”

To read the letter, Click Here

To learn more about Ride to Work Day, visit http://www.ridetowork.org/.

The Motorcycle Industry Council’s (MIC) Senior Vice President for Government Relations, Kathy Van Kleeck said, “Ride to Work Day is an important opportunity for motorcyclists to make a positive statement and we would like to thank the Caucus Co-chairs and the other Members of the Congressional Motorcycle Safety Caucus for their involvement and continued commitment to motorcycle safety.”

Duane Taylor, MIC’s Director, Federal Affairs stated, “The CMSC is an effective voice for motorcycle safety. As noted in the letter, the CMSC has passed Congressional Resolutions supporting the goals of May As Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, hosted a Capitol Hill event attended by the Secretary of Transportation, and ensured that motorcycle safety is remembered in the transportation reauthorization process as well as highlighting Ride to Work Day.” Taylor continued, “I encourage all riders to get involved and to ask their Member to sign up for the Caucus.”

The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. It is a not-for-profit, national industry association representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants.

The MIC is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with a government relations office adjacent to Washington, D.C. First called the MIC in 1970, the organization has been in operation since 1914. Visit the MIC at www.mic.org .