Harley Davidson Archives | Wind Burned Eyes

Is Harley-Davidson’s Deadwood Cruiser the Bike That Will Save the Sturgis Soul?

Harley-Davidson is pulling the wraps off a brand-new model called the Deadwood—a cruiser inspired by the post-war history of Sturgis itself—at the 86th annual rally in August. It’s not often that a new bike gets its public debut at the world’s largest motorcycle rally, and the fact that Harley chose this one to unveil there says something about what the company thinks this machine represents.

The Motor Company seems intent on leaning hard into heritage during what has been a turbulent year for the brand. After laying off workers and facing dealer health concerns in the U.S. market, rolling out the Deadwood at Sturgis feels like a statement: Harley still builds the bikes that matter to the culture that made the rally what it is.

Can Harley-Davidson’s Superglide and Deadwood Actually Save the Brand?

Harley just raised its 2026 sales forecast, citing stronger North American demand and positive dealer feedback on new models. The bigger question is whether affordable, customizable bikes can reverse years of market share losses.

The Milwaukee company increased its full-year guidance from 130,000-135,000 units to 133,500-138,500 units during its second-quarter earnings call. It’s a modest bump, but CEO Artie Starrs kept hammering one message: dealer health is improving.

Does Harley-Davidsons New Deadwood Actually Deliver on the Custom Stripped-Down Look?

Harley-Davidson’s new Deadwood arrives as a raw, unadorned take on the Heritage Classic. Named after the South Dakota community near Sturgis, this stripped-down cruiser launches mid-year with a starting price of $17,999, available only in the U.S. and Canada.

The philosophy here is simple: start with the Heritage Classic and remove everything unnecessary. Out goes the chrome trim, the luggage racks, and the ornamental details. In their place, Harley finished all the bodywork and controls in matte black, leaving just the lower rocker cover and pushrod tubes chrome-plated to highlight the V-Twin’s iconic shape.

Custom Harley-Davidson Knucklehead by Infinity Motorcycle

Masumi Tsuchino of Japan’s Infinity Motorcycle has crafted “BT6,” a stark and purposeful board tracker that reimagines American racing history through a “what if” lens.

Commissioned by S&S Cycle for their 2025 Vintage Tour, the build asks what a 1920s board track racer might have looked like if S&S had existed during the sport’s golden era. Tsuchino, a former Toyota mechanic with a penchant for historical precision, utilized a modified 1936 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead frame and a set of vintage girder forks to create a silhouette that feels like a recovered artifact.

Will a Sportier Small-Displacment Bike Join the Harley-Davidson X440?

In a move to strengthen its presence in the small-displacement motorcycle market, Harley-Davidson, in collaboration with Indian motorcycle manufacturer Hero MotoCorp, is expanding its 440cc lineup.

This partnership, which began in 2020, has already produced the successful Harley-Davidson X440, a single-cylinder roadster aimed at a younger, more global audience.

Norton-Harley ‘Norley’ Custom Motorcycle by Cédric Camiade

This is “The Onyx,” a “Norley” forged by the hands of a French artisan named Cédric Camiade. A Norley, for the uninitiated, is a rare beast: a Harley-Davidson engine nestled within the graceful lines of a Norton Featherbed frame.

Cédric, a man steeped in the world of motorcycles, found his inspiration for this particular build while in Sri Lanka, mesmerized by a deep black onyx stone. The result? A motorcycle that wears that same elegance, a stunning interplay of black bodywork and gleaming chrome.

Harley-Davidson Appoints Artie Starrs CEO

The roar of a V-twin, the very heartbeat of a Harley-Davidson, is a sound that has long defined a company and a culture. But now, a new voice is stepping into the choir, not from the world of engines and chrome, but from Topgolf, to turn things around.

Harley-Davidson has announced that Artie Starrs, a man known for his work at Topgolf, will be taking the helm as its new CEO. This appointment is more than just a changing of the guard; it’s a bold new direction for the Motor Company.

Summer Discounts on Select Harley-Davidsons

The rumble you hear is the sound of opportunity rolling in from Milwaukee. Yes, I’m talking about Harley-Davidson.

The grand old dame of American iron is making it a little easier for good people to throw a leg over a brand-new hog thanks to some summer discounts, and that’s news worth shouting through the nearest chrome pipe.

Thunderbike RockSTar Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST Custom

Here’s the Thunderbike RockSTar, a custom machine born from the bones of a Harley-Davidson Low Rider ST.

This particular creation serves as a respectful nod to the factory’s striking “Tobacco Fade” paint, a finish Thunderbike carefully preserved even as they wove in a series of subtle, yet truly impactful, custom touches.

1998 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Chopper – “Melissa”

Here’s a look at “Melissa,” a custom 1998 Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Chopper, crafted by Pittsburgh musician Dan Ford.

This machine, brought to life just in time for the Glory Daze event, embodies the classic Sportster chopper aesthetic: a flame-adorned tank, a distinctive custom sissy bar, and a robust springer front end. Its black and yellow color scheme is a clear nod to its Pittsburgh origins.