As ever, the Powersports trade doesn’t sleep. Right here’s the newest trade to-dos floating about as of some days in the past:
- Harley-Davidson has launched its second-quarter outcomes, displaying a gross sales hunch and a withdrawal of its annual forecast predictions.
- After the monetary hullabaloo of the previous yr, KTM has formally resumed manufacturing – and to set riders’ hearts relaxed, they’ve additionally given us a projected timeline for his or her 2026 mannequin yr.
- Honda’s readying to indicate off a brand new EV bike that will likely be born in the identical class as their Urband Idea scooter.
- Indian Bikes’ “FORGED” collection launched their ultimate bike, and it’s Indian’s new beast, the 2025 Chieftain PowerPlus!
Let’s begin on the trade information aspect of issues and work our manner throughout, lets? 🙂
Harley-Davidson Reviews Second Quarter Gross sales Hunch
Annual Forecast Placed on Maintain Resulting from Tariff Uncertainties
Harley-Davidson’s not having a straightforward time of issues…and if this new quarter outcomes are any indicator, we suggest retaining an in depth eye on the remainder of 2025 and 2026 for this model.
In keeping with a press launch from Harley-Davidson – printed to PRNewsWire at 7 am this morning – Harley-Davidson Motorbike Firm (HDMC)’s income was down by 23% year-over-year. World bike shipments have been additionally down 28%, and world gross sales have been down 15% year-over-year. Worldwide supplier inventories have been additionally down 28%, with tariffs costing Harley a whopping $13 million this quarter alone.
All the above doesn’t look good; in truth, maybe that is why Jochen Zeitz – beforehand confirmed to have stepped down from Harley’s function of CEO, now listed AGAIN as Harley’s CEO – has introduced a brand new partnership, stating the next under:
| “Whereas our second quarter outcomes proceed to be impacted by a difficult industrial setting for discretionary merchandise and an unsure tariff state of affairs, we’re extraordinarily happy to announce a strategic partnership for HDFS with KKR and PIMCO that generates vital worth for Harley-Davidson on all ranges. Our strategic companions have valued the HDFS enterprise at roughly 1.75x post-transaction ebook worth. We anticipate this may unlock $1.25 billion in money and leaves HDFS nicely positioned to serve our prospects and sellers.
With the money from the transaction, we plan to cut back our debt by $450 million and speed up our $1 billion share buyback program introduced final yr, by the acquisition of $500 million within the second half of ’25. We even have the pliability to speculate as much as $300 million of further funds into future progress alternatives.” – Jochen Zeitz, Chairman, President and CEO (??), Harley-Davidson. |
To interrupt down the above quote:
- The a part of Harley-Davidson that sells bikes (HDMC) just isn’t promoting as many bikes.
- The a part of Harley-Davidson that sells monetary companies (HDFS), nonetheless, exhibits that the corporate has nice price past the bikes. Harley-Davidson believes their property are price greater than the speed at which the market is at present valuing them.
- Because of the above information, KKR and PIMCO are teaming up with HDFS, and Harley-Davidson is anticipating to have about $1.25 billion in money to play with.
- Utilizing that $1.25 billion, Harley will likely be paying off $450 million of their debt, purchase again $500 million of their shares, and nonetheless have as much as $300 million to spend money on cool stuff for his or her neighborhood for the approaching seasons.
In brief, Jochen’s good at determining the cash a part of Harley-Davidson, and it seems that he’s stepping again into his function as CEO to assist Harley-Davidson alongside. We could not have an annual forecast for the corporate but, and with leisure automobile demand within the U.S. declining as customers reply to an unsure financial system, we stay up for seeing what a doubtlessly capital-light enterprise mannequin will appear like for HDFS… and what that can imply for Harley’s bike aspect of issues.
For an in depth have a look at Harley-Davidson’s second-quarter efficiency and the strategic HDFS transaction, take a look at Harley-Davidson and Reuter’s contributions under:
KTM Resumes Manufacturing, Units Timeline for 2026 Fashions
The Austrians Return!
KTM’s been by means of the ringer, they usually’ve lastly made it out. Mazel tof!!
To recap the place this all started, let’s have a look at KTM’s timeline thus far:
- A circa-2021 reminder earlier than we begin: In keeping with PIERER Mobility’s press launch again on the twenty first of September, 2021, Bajaj had “contributed 46.5% out of its approx. 48% shares at present held in KTM AG by PTW Holding AG (the bulk shareholder of PIERER Mobility AG).” This transfer allowed Bajaj Auto to achieve management of a 49.9% stake in PIERER’s majority shareholder. In brief, Bajaj was 0.2% away from a majority stake in KTM manner again in 2021, earlier than issues obtained overly gnarly.
- KTM’s “unprecedented monetary disaster” was first aired to the general public in late 2024, with platforms like Mexico Enterprise Information stating that KTM’s lack of €2.5 billion (US$2.6 billion) meant that the corporate was working exhausting to stabilize its operations. At the moment, KTM’s debt totalled greater than €3 billion, and declining world demand led to 100,000 unsold bikes, or round one yr’s price of potential gross sales for KTM.
- It was additionally round this time that we realized KTM needed to let go of 750 workers, all of whom represented the primary wave of cost-cutting measures as the corporate utilized for judicial restructuring proceedings.
- 2025’s first quarter noticed an replace in information stories from the likes of Energy Techniques Analysis, declaring that KTM had “entered self-administration below Austria’s insolvency legal guidelines, granting it a 90-day safety interval from collectors.” A short lived halt in manufacturing was initiated on the Mattighofen manufacturing unit, listed to final till the tip of February 2025.
- By late February of 2025, we heard from RevZilla that 300 further layoffs have been enforce between January and February as KTM entered into an settlement compelling the corporate to repay at the very least 30% of its money owed. This meant that €548 million ($575 million USD) was as a result of be paid to KTM’s collectors by Could 23.
- Legalities included the truth that KTM’s collectors filed €2.2 billion ($2.3 billion USD) in claims, however KTM was solely instructed to pay again €1.7 billion ($1.8 billion USD) of that authentic quantity. The total restructuring plan was purportedly accepted by collectors on February twenty fifth.
- Per Powersports Enterprise, Bajaj Auto was the father or mother firm that swooped in and got here to KTM’s rescue. We’re instructed that €600 million was made out there along with the 200 million euros already supplied, totalling €800 million ($905,244 USD) geared toward revitalizing KTM. After all, this transfer meant that Bajaj was given the chance to speculate a 50.1% stake in Pierer Bajaj AG.
- Right now (July 30, 2025), we all know that Bajaj’s 50.1% stake in KTM is principally a achieved deal, with each events merely awaiting pending regulatory approval of the bulk stake.
Now that y’all are up to date with the information, we’re right here to rejoice the truth that KTM has, as of two days in the past, formally resumed manufacturing!
In keeping with protection from KTM’s press launch, Mattinghofen is again to a full-time, five-day work week. The festivities be a part of different information: New fashions are slotted to be revealed within the coming weeks… and all this earlier than EICMA!
LC4 platform fashions to be revealed for the 2026 mannequin yr embody the 690 ENDURO R in addition to KTM’s 690 SMC R. As anticipated, CEO Gottfried Neumeister is happy at this new motion:
“A particular thanks goes to our workers, who’ve made this restart attainable by means of their large dedication, flexibility, and crew spirit over the previous months. Their dedication throughout one of the crucial difficult phases has been – and continues to be – a key success issue for the corporate’s future improvement… Restarting manufacturing provides us the soundness we have to totally refocus on high quality, buyer proximity, and additional improvement.”
– Gottfried Neumeister, CEO, KTM (KTM’s press launch) |
An enormous congrats to KTM for the exhausting work of all concerned to get up to now, and should our good Powerports trade proceed to blossom with devoted rides for our bevy of roads – each throughout the pond and past.
For extra detailed info on KTM’s manufacturing restart, go to KTM’s web site and browse their press launch:
Rumor Has It: Honda Is Primed to Reveal an EV Bike Forward of EICMA
New Electrical Sports activities Mannequin to Be part of City Idea Scooter
The world’s largest bike producer has been revving to introduce a brand new machine – and judging by the latest tease on Instagram, it’s going to be a zero-emission providing for the emissions-conscious lots.
In keeping with the teaser supplied by Honda Bikes Europe on YouTube, September 2nd is the official date that this electrical bike will likely be revealed. That is additionally slotted to be Massive Purple’s very first “electrical sports activities” mannequin, instantly primarily based on one of many EV Enjoyable Ideas initially introduced within the press launch Honda printed again throughout EICMA. Again then, we knew this pint-sized little bit of zip was a unadorned sports activities mannequin equal to a mid-sized gas-guzzler, and that it was posited to have a variety of round or greater than 100km, or round 62 miles.
At the moment, the tease video exhibits a prototype-style taped bike with a single LED headlight, no lever on the left deal with and a reasonably large sprint, upon which we assume that Honda could have cute tidbits like charging standing, vary predictions, and probably perks like a navigation system. The addition of a single-sided swingarm and Pirelli Diablo Rosso III rubber provides critical indicators that this machine is headed for the sporty sector, however till the factor is debuted, we can not give a full opinion… so we’ll maintain our peace till September 2nd.
For a better have a look at the teaser photos and preliminary particulars of Honda’s upcoming electrical sports activities mannequin, head over to Motorbike.com:
Indian Releases 2025 Chieftain PowerPlus
Kyle Bertsch, Satya KrausJeremy “Twitch” Stenberg Put their Signature on “Cast” Collection’ Last Bike
Indian Motorbike’s acclaimed FORGED video collection has wrapped its newest season, and the trifecta of builders for this ultimate machine have outdone themselves.
In keeping with Indian’s press launch, the builders of this new 2025 Chieftain PowerPlus – Kyle Bertsch of Without end Rad, Satya Kraus of Kraus Motor Co., and Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg himself – bestowed their creation to former UFC World Champion, Cody “No Love” Garbrandt. The end result benefitted from billet aluminium, carbon fibre and handcrafted parts, with each Satya and new proprietor Garbrandt having been quoted with the next:
| “We designed this bike not solely to signify what’s attainable, however to assist outline what’s subsequent… It was about pushing the boundaries of efficiency and design and creating elements that riders can really use and really feel the distinction. Partnering with Cody and Indian Motorbike gave us the prospect to prototype new parts and rethink what a Chieftain may be.
This bike is only a straight road ripper. There’s no BS. There’s no shiny paint. There’s no fancy this or that. It’s stylish however it’s imply, and it’s all about enterprise.” – Satya Kraus, Kraus Motor Co. founder (Indian Bikes) |
| “Once I obtained the chance for the Cast collection, it was superb… And as soon as I used to be paired with Kraus, I used to be like a child on Christmas and couldn’t wait to get on the bike. I rock numerous Kraus merchandise on my different bikes and simply know that these guys are riders, by means of and thru. It’s among the finest days of my life to have the ability to have a motorcycle that’s constructed by them that I’m going to journey and actually take pleasure in.
Getting on it, I used to be simply tremendous impressed. I imply, I had my cheeks harm from smiling a lot. I don’t suppose I’ve smiled that a lot on a motorcycle.” – Cody “No Love” Garbrandt, former UFC World Champion (Indian Bikes) |
In case you’re wanting a gander on the official checklist, right here’s the (exorbitant) checklist of stuff that went into the 2025 Chieftain PowerPlus construct:
- Black Stone Tek Cast Carbon Wheels/Brocks Efficiency
- Kraus RTX8 Brake Caliper
- Kraus RT Efficiency Brake Pads
- Kraus ARP Caliper {Hardware} Package
- Spiegler Brake Traces
- Kraus Öhlins Inverted Entrance Finish
- DTF Carbon Entrance Fender
- Kraus Low Profile Spoke Mount {Hardware}
- Denali D14 Headlight
- Denali D4 Working/Flip Sign Lights
- Klockwerks Chieftain Windshield
- Kraus Hart-Luck Riser Base
- Kraus Shorty Bar Mounts
- Kraus Stainless KR Low Bar – Thermal Gold
- Indian Raidal RS Mirrors by Rizoma
- Kraus Radial Grasp Cylinder, Clutch Perch, Adjustable Levers
- Hart-Luck ODI Grips
- DTF Carbon Sprint Cowl
- Customized Tank Emblems
- Kraus Seat by Saddlemen
- Kraus Coil Relo Mount
- Kraus Charcoal Canister Delete Cowl
- Kraus Max Lean Floorboards
- Kraus Adjustable Foot, Shift, and Brake Levers
- Kraus Passenger Foot Pegs Mounts
- Kraus Max Lean Mini Boards
- Kraus Customized Derby Cowl
- Modified OEM Aspect Panels
- Customized Trimmed DTF Carbon Rear Fender w/ Billet Machined Tail Lip
- Customized Kraus Billet Bag Mounts
- Fabricated Aluminum Bag Helps with Customized Bag {Hardware}
- Customized Chopped Saddlebags
- Kraus Hinge Cowl
- Ciro Saddlebag Lights
- Polished Swing Arm
- Modified Öhlins Adjustable Rear Shock
- Preload Adjuster Mount
- Kraus Rear RTX8 Brake Caliper
- Kraus Rear Radial Caliper Mount – 108mm
- Fab28 Customized Stainless Exhaust System
- Modified Entrance Sprocket Cowl
- Chain Drive Package
- DID 530 Chain
- Kickstand Extension Puck
- Low Mount License Plate Mount
We want Garbrandt the very best together with his new construct!
For added particulars on the construct, take a look at the video we hooked up to this text, or take a look at the press launch related to Indian’s FORGED collection under:
