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Cycle Update

Harley-Davidson Motor Company now ranks 79 in Fortune magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies to Work For.” Fortune selects companies for this list based on what employees say about their workplaces.

Some 46,526 randomly selected employees from 304 candidate companies were asked to complete an employee opinion survey; employees may also submit written comments about their workplace.

The candidate companies are also asked to complete a questionnaire detailing its people policies, practices and philosophies. Companies are evaluated based on the employee surveys, employee comments and candidate questionnaires.

CALIFORNIA HELMET BILL AMENDED
The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has reported that a proposed law in California that could have forced some motorcyclists to become organ donors against their wishes has been amended, and will be reconsidered without the organ-donation provisions.

The amended Assembly Bill 1200 proposes allowing adults 18 and older to decide whether to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. The organ-donation provisions, which had outraged the AMA and motorcyclists nationwide, stated that those who chose not to wear a helmet are “deemed to have consented to the making of an anatomical gift under this act.”

The AMA worked directly with Assemblyman John Longville (D-San Bernardino) to remove all of the organ-donation provisions from AB-1200, which was granted reconsideration and has been referred again to the Assembly Transportation Committee.

HARDEN INJURED IN DAKAR RALLY
Scot Harden, vice president of media at KTM USA, suffered a broken ankle during Day 9 of 17 of the Paris-Dakar Rally. The injury occurred just one day after Harden moved into the top ten overall. Harden crashed on a difficult section of the course between Tidjikja and Tichit, Mauritania, just outside of the first checkpoint. He was forced to withdraw from the race.

KLEIMAN TO EDIT NEW MAGAZINE
Marjorie Kleiman has been appointed editor for TAM Communications’ new bimonthly trade magazine. Kleiman has been a professional writer in business and motorcycle publications, as well as a magazine bureau chief and newsletter editor. She has been a manager at two Fortune 500 companies, worked the parts counter at an independent bike shop and owns and rides a Sportster and a Dyna Glide. She also has experience in marketing and advertising within the motorcycle industry.

BMW USA POSTS RECORD SALES
BMW, the importer and distributor of BMW motorcycles in the United States, posted its seventh consecutive year of record sales last year, recording a 13% increase in sales over the previous year.

For the first time ever, motorcycle sales surpassed the 15,000 mark in the U.S.; a total of 15,299 units were sold. Sales in December were the second-best for that month in the company’s history, while the month of September broke previous sales performance records.

“Our sustained success during our 80th anniversary year demonstrates the strength of the BMW brand across a broad range of models,” said Arturo Pineiro, general manager for BMW Motorrad USA.

BMW’s top-selling motorcycle models during 2003 were the R 1150 RT sport tourer, the K 1200 GT, the new R 1150 R Rockster, the R 1200 CLC tourer, and the R 1150 GS Adventure. There are 148 BMW motorcycle retailers in the U.S.

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TRIUMPH NAMES MARKETING OFFICER
Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., has named Todd Andersen vice president, marketing. Andersen has over 18 years of management experience expertise in consumer marketing. He will work directly with Tue Mantoni, worldwide commercial director Triumph Motorcycles and Mark Brady, chief operating officer Triumph Motorcycles (America) Ltd., to manage the marketing activities in United States, Canada and Latin America.

An avid motorcyclist and former road racer, Mr. Andersen has previous experience with highly recognized companies including General Mills, and McKinsey & Company. He was most recently a principal in a software and services company in New York.

A graduate of Bates College, Andersen received his MBA in 1985 from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business in Durham, North Carolina. He is in the process of relocating from New York to Newnan, Georgia.

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