Garage parties, smaller cycles aimed at luring women riders

At a recent convention of Harley-Davidson dealers here, Delia Passi, a marketing consultant, was sharing the finer points of selling to women with her audience of about 150, many of whom wore boots, jeans, and tattoos. One wore a T-shirt that read, "Born to Party, Forced to Work."
Neatly groomed hair is a good start, she said. Always maintain eye contact. Keep those handshakes firm, but not too firm. Clean the bathrooms. Set up a play area for children. And don't forget the little things that can help draw in passers-by. "Put a plant out there to say you are female-friendly," she said.

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Harley-Davidson hits a pothole

You certainly wouldn't know it from cruising local highways this weekend, but Harley-Davidson Inc.'s profits have been going up in smoke.

The company -- the preeminent American motorcycle manufacturer -- reported a 15.3 percent drop in profit in the latest quarter. And the company warned next year looks like rough riding, too.

Rising oil prices and a crumbling housing market are squeezing U.S. consumers, so they're being cautious about spending, Harley's chief executive, Jim Ziemer, said in an interview with the Associated Press.
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For Sale: 2007 Harley Davidson Sportster Nightster "Custom"

I am selling a 2007 HD Sportster Nightster which I has some customized items.
Purchased: 6/8/07,Color: Vivid Black, Serial#1HD1CZ3447K459432, Miles:1789.
This bike comes with the listed accessories:
Vance&Hines Shortshot Staggered Chrome Exhaust
Lo-Ball Z-Bars-Black Powdercoated HandleBars
Arlen Ness Alt. Four-Point Mirror, Black Mirrors
10" Harley Short Shocks Black
Smoked lens on signal and rear lights
HD Billet Footpegs
Wille G: Skull Hand Grips, Skull Derby Cover, and Gas Cap
HD 1200 Black Air Cleaner
Upgrade Fuel Injection Service
Hi Flow Intake Service
Maltese Cross Fork Bag
Bike Cover
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Harley Davidson Sportster Cafe Racer by Hogbitz

This year has seen the emergence of a new style in the custom bike scene with both Fred Krugger and Roger Goldammer building café racer inspired, Harley engined bikes, however, there is now a more affordable option for those who want the café racer look with Harley power. Hogbitz, in Chigwell Essex, England are now building Sportster based café racers.

The man behind the builds, Brian Udall, takes low mileage Sportsters and rebuilds them to resemble classic Tritons. The stock frame and forks are retained, to keep the cost down, the main changes are to the bodywork. The tank is swapped for a distinctive, hand beaten alloy unit and a new rear fender is fitted.
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Motorcyclist killed in crash with trailer

A motorcyclist was killed yesterday when his bike collided with a farm wagon being pulled by a pickup on State Rt. 114, west of State Rt. 49, in southwestern Paulding County, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

John P. Phipps, 51, of Paulding County's Benton Township, who was thrown from the motorcycle and was not wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers at the patrol's Van Wert post said.

Mr. Phipps, who owns Country Times Market gas station and convenience store in Antwerp, Ohio, was westbound on Route 114, south of Payne in Benton Township, just after noon, riding behind the pickup pulling a wagon full of seed wheat, troopers said.
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Updated: Captain's death stuns Sheriff's Department

A shaken Chief Deputy Sheriff Kelly Stephens walked out of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's satellite office south of Carthage and looked to the western horizon where sunbeams shone brightly through the heavy cloud cover.

Stephens may have been looking for some kind of sign that things would be okay in the wake of the death Sunday of his friend and co-worker, Jasper County Sheriff's Capt. Jerry Gilbert, and maybe he got it.

"Wow, that right there speaks loudly," Stephens said with a smile as he paused to look at the horizon.

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