The latest reports concerning stage one bids received by Volkswagen by the appointed July date for Ducati did not , after all , include Harley . Yay , hurrah for our side ! It is thought that by the time the reports emerged connecting Harley with seeking bid advice from Goldman Sachs , the executive suite at Juneau Avenue had already cooled on the idea , as the full gravitas of their way worse than expected second quarter results dawned on them .

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On the other hand , several bids were received by VAG advisor Evercore – motorcycle related and investor-led bids . As a second stage of bidding is set to get underway , the Italian Benetton family and India ’ s giant ( and KTM partner ) Bajaj Auto are thought to be in the holeshot .

However , their 47.96 % ownership stake in KTM , recently announced plans to work with KTM brand Husqvarna to take the venerable off-roaders global and their Ducati ambitions haven ’ t stopped Bajaj Auto CEO Rajiv Bajaj from continuing to get creative where finding ways to spending the conglomerate ’ s $ 13 bn cash reserve are concerned . On August 8 , they announced a non-equity tieup with British manufacturer Triumph to offer a range of midcapacity motorcycles in emerging markets .

AMD is pleased to note that former World Championship competitor Athena “ Chickie ” Ransom has re-opened her Vagabond Choppers emporium at Pompano Beach , Florida , after a torrid few years .

Polaris Industries has reported second quarter 2017 sales of $ 1,364.9 million , up + 21 percent from $ 1,130.8 million for the second quarter of 2016 . Adjusted sales , which excludes the impact from Victory Motorcycles net sales for the second quarter of 2017 , were $ 1,358.8 million compared to $ 1,130.8 million in the prior year period . Motorcycle segment sales , including its PG & A related sales in the second quarter of 2017 , was $ 198.0 million , a decrease of -13 percent compared to $ 228.4 million reported in the second quarter of 2016 , which included $ 6.2 million of Victory motorcycle unit , accessory and apparel sales versus $ 54.0 million of Victory sales reported in the second quarter of 2016 - driven by new product introductions and increased awareness of the brand . This increase was more than offset by significantly lower Slingshot sales . Motorcycle gross profit for the second quarter of 2017 was $ 21.1 million compared to $ 38.9 million in the second quarter of 2016 . Adjusted for

the Victory wind-down costs of $ 8.9 million , motorcycle gross profit was $ 30.0 million , down from the second quarter last year due primarily to lower

Slingshot volume . North American consumer retail demand for the Polaris motorcycle

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