New Harley Davidson is ‘elegant & brutal' with woven seats and stylish wheels – the back setup got a total makeover
The V-twin racing street custom range was discontinued eight years ago, but since then, many riders have turned to custom builders to create their own unique machines that reflect the line in similar ways.
4
4
4
A particularly striking custom design from Spanish builder Lord Drake Kustoms - a Night Rod Special, which is a high-performance drag bike - stands out as one of the most impressive, featuring numerous cool modifications.
The most noticeable change is the upgraded rear wheel, which was already large in stock form at 240mm but has now been expanded to the maximum legal size of 330mm.
Indeed, the entire rear setup has been reworked, including a new swingarm and a transmission offset.
The shock absorber spacers have also been updated, along with the Legend air suspension that allows the bike to be raised or lowered on demand.
Lord Drake Kustoms fabricated many of the aftermarket elements in-house.
These include the fenders over the wheels, the seat, and various body parts, while the rear fender also integrates an LED taillight.
One of the few untouched components is the engine, which remains the stock Revolution motor that Harley-Davidson originally developed with Porsche.
The engine delivers 120 horsepower but features a custom exhaust system.
Aesthetically, the V-Rod is finished in matte black, gloss black, and gold. Its large seat features diamond-shaped stitching with gold thread and engraved escutcheons.
The rear fender displays Roman numerals, the meaning of which is known only to the bike's owner, a customer from Mexico.
Described as both 'elegant and brutal,' the bike's price remains a mystery. However, a used stock version can sell for anywhere between $6,000 and $16,000.
It's been a big week for Harley-Davidson, who announced a major update after recent calls for the brand's CEO to lose his role.
The US bike giant's second-largest investor was keen to see three directors, including boss Jochen Zeitz, ousted as part of a major reshuffle.
However, in a closely contested board decision, Zeitz has kept his position in what was described as a 'razor-thin outcome" by Reuters.
Zeitz, who has run the iconic firm since 2020, has been criticized in recent times for the company's declining sales and falling stock price.
To that end, H Partners had been pushing for an external candidate to come in, but proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services said they failed to make "a compelling case for change".
It's been hinted that Zeitz is to retire this year - but the German-born businessman has said he would stay until a replacement was found.
Harley-Davidson closures in 2024
There are over 650 Harley-Davidson dealerships across America.
However, multiple stores have closed for various reasons throughout 2024 - if they give any explanation at all.
Below is a list of some Harley-Davidson locations that have shuttered this year and why they closed their doors:
A San Francisco location closed in June 2024 after 110 years due to 'chaos' brought by new management.
Miracle City Harley-Davidson in Titusville, Florida, closed in September 2024 with no reason given.
Harley-Davidson's legacy location in New York City closed shop on September 28, 2024, with the owner citing problems with the economy.
Reiman's Harley-Davidson dealership in Kewanee, Illinois, closed its doors in October 2024 after the owners sold the business to the Walter Brothers Harley Davidson dealership in Peoria, Illinois.
Another Illinois dealership closed in November 2024.
Plus, the dealership in West Bend, Wisconsin, is temporarily closing for the season from November 2 until April 1, 2024.
In 2025, Hideout Harley-Davidson in Missouri announced it would shutter at the end of March.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Auto Blog
an hour ago
- Auto Blog
Porsche Launches Sweet 2025 Panamera Lease Deal For August
The electric crossover segment is home to some of the industry's top rivalries, including that of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Ford Mustang Mach-E. 2025 Porsche Panamera sticks to the script The 2025 Porsche Panamera might come with a sedan bodystyle and front engine, but it still carries the performance and driving dynamics the German brand is known for. Designed to provide an engaging driving experience similar to that of the Porsche 911 sports car, the Panamera (and its price tag) aren't for the faint of heart. Porsche is kicking off August with a sweet lease deal on a new Panamera, with monthly payments as low as $1,549 over a 39-month term. 2025 Porsche Panamera — Source: Porsche 2025 Porsche Panamera lease offer for August The 2025 Porsche Panamera comes with blazing performance and a price tag to match. For the month of August, the German manufacturer is offering a single nationwide lease offer on new Panamera models. Based on an MSRP of $115,745, you could get into a Panamera for as little as $1,549.25 per month, with a hefty $12,109 due at signing. That down payment includes the first month's payment, $1,095 acquisition fee, and $9,465 capitalized cost reduction. 2025 Porsche Panamera — Source: Porsche This Porsche Panamera lease deal is valid through September 2nd and spans a 39-month term, with a 32,500-mile allowance over the course of the contract. If you prefer to keep your upfront costs to a minimum, or you're short on liquid assets, you could inquire about a zero down payment plan. Spreading the $12,109.25 down payment over 39 payments would increase your monthly costs to an estimated $1,859.74 ($12,109.25/39 + $1,549.25). Qualified lessees must be approved through Porsche Financial Services. 2025 Porsche Panamera — Source: Porsche 2025 Porsche Panamera highlights The Porsche Panamera gets a few major changes for the 2025 model year, with two PHEVs and a range-topping GTS joining the lineup. Regardless of powertrain, all Panamera models share the same styling and chassis components. Hybrid models get an exclusive option, an active suspension system with hydraulic pumps that stabilize the Panamera over bumps and through corners. 2025 Porsche Panamera — Source: Porsche The base Panamera rocks out with a 348-horsepower turbocharged V6 engine mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While the base model sticks with RWD, stepping up to the Panamera 4 gets you standard AWD. Regardless of drivetrain, the 2025 Porsche Panamera is rated for an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving. The range-topping nonhybrid Porsche Panamera GTS rolls out with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 493 horsepower and 486 lb-ft of torque. That kind of power pushes the Panamera GTS to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. The Panamera GTS is rated for 18 mpg in combined city/highway driving. Hybrid Porsche Panamera models come with the same 2.9-liter V6 engine that powers the base model, along with electric motors and a 21.8 kWh battery. Thanks to the electric motors, performance gets boosted to 463 and 536 horsepower in the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid and 4S E-Hybrid, respectively. The hybrid models have yet to be rated by the EPA. 2025 Porsche Panamera — Source: Porsche The Porsche Panamera is a true sedan in form and function, with seating for up to five passengers. Alternatively, you can swap out the rear bench for bucket seats, reducing seating to four. The model's price tag gives way to an interior with premium materials and plenty of tech. A 12.6-inch curved digital gauge cluster sits behind the steering wheel, while a 10.9-inch infotainment touchscreen rests nicely in the center dashboard. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, as does wireless smartphone charging. Final thoughts Porsche's four-door sports car fits the brand's portfolio perfectly, with plenty of performance under the hood and engaging driving dynamics to boot. Equipped with seating for up to five passengers, the Panamera's form follows function. Stop at your local Porsche dealership before September 2nd if you're interested in seeing what the German marque's sport sedan can do! 2025 Porsche Panamera — Source: Porsche Lease offers can vary by location and vehicle configuration. Advertised monthly payments don't necessarily include taxes, title, registration, or other fees. To learn more about this 2025 Porsche Panamera lease deal, head over to the official Porsche website. *Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. The information presented herein is based on manufacturer-provided lease offer information, which is subject to frequent change and may vary based on location, creditworthiness, and other factors. We are not a party to any lease agreements and assume no liability for the terms, conditions, availability, or accuracy of any lease offers mentioned. All terms, including but not limited to pricing, mileage allowances, and residual values, require direct verification with an authorized local OEM dealership. This article does not constitute financial advice or an endorsement of any particular lease or vehicle. About the Author Joseph Pudlewski View Profile
Times
an hour ago
- Times
‘Applying for a pension was a pain so I invented a better way'
Luke Mackey is a rare specimen: a 31-year-old serial tech entrepreneur, digitally native, who is manically interested in pensions and health insurance. Boring? Hardly. Kota, the company Mackey founded with his partners Patrick O'Boyle and Deepak Baliga, has raised more than €20 million from a list of investors that includes some of Europe's savviest venture capitalists. They include Northzone, an early backer of Spotify; EQT Ventures, part of the investment empire of Sweden's mega wealthy Wallenberg family; and Eurazeo, one of France's largest backers of tech. The local firm Frontline VC, which has a string of stunning exits to its name, is also a shareholder. The digital broker Kota has signed up 150 companies to use its technology to deliver pension and health insurance benefits to 'tens of thousands' of employees. Most work for fast-growing technology companies. It is partnering with 25 pension and health insurers — Mackey calls them carriers — across Europe, Canada, South Africa and India, and recently added its first insurer in Germany. Carriers include the South African-owned Vitality, the German multinational Allianz and the Spanish health insurer Sanitas. 'When we started it was taking a quarter [three months] to integrate a carrier,' he says. 'Our goal now is to add a [new] carrier every two weeks.' A number of global HR tech companies such as and HiBob are also embedding Kota technology into their platforms, accelerating the proliferation of the Irish company's technology and its revenues. Kota is not yet four years old. 'I have been in a start-up where you are working a lot of late nights, continuously pushing the boulder up the hill,' Mackey says. There are a lot of late nights at Kota, he adds, yet 'chasing the boulder down the hill is a lot more fun'. It's easy to see what's attracting venture capitalists. Making benefits easy for SMEs, increasing pension and health coverage, the company is addressing a huge market. When Mackey pulls the Kota app up on his smartphone, he can check his pension and increase his salary contribution. He examines his health insurance policy to see if he is covered for a forthcoming sinus operation. It's frictionless, à la Revolut. It integrates easily into the client company's payroll and HR system, à la Stripe. Is Kota the Revolut or Stripe of benefits? 'It depends on who we are talking to, HR or IT department,' he says. The company is also leaning into a sizeable opportunity in its home market. The government's auto-enrolment or mandatory pension regime, where every employee in the country must be offered a pension, is due to come into force from January. The state scheme MyFutureFund, which includes a top-up from the government, has its limitations so Kota is mounting a national roadshow to pitch its alternative, which it says is a quick, easy and cost-effective means of becoming auto-enrolment compliant. It is piggy-backing on a state initiative to increase awareness of pensions, to lift its profile through 20 breakfast and lunch meetings. Clever. Kota staffers pulled a late night last week stuffing envelopes with handwritten invitations with a QR code for registration. Mackey, a marketing graduate, was tickled by the idea of a digital-first tech company using 'snail mail' as opposed to an email shot. Auto-enrolment is 'another tailwind', he says. Mackey, a Dubliner, started his first business career when studying for his marketing degree at the National College of Ireland (NCI). With a school friend from CBC Monkstown he set up Spacefox Studios, which made marketing videos and built websites for restaurants and coffee shops. His office was a 'wherever I popped myself down', which was usually a coffee shop. He spent a lot of time watching queues, and customer frustration, building at peak periods. When he graduated from NCI in 2016, Mackey hooked up with a college friend, Alan Haverty, to create Bamboo, a mobile ordering app that made it easier for customers to pick up orders from restaurants close to their place of work at peak times. Within three years the company partnered with 100 restaurants in Dublin, Cork and Galway. • Ireland's 100 best restaurants for 2025 Funding the venture was 'painful', Mackey says. It raised cash from a small number of private individuals and Enterprise Ireland, who invested €225,000. Joe Elias, the US investor who invented vodka 'baggies', or spirits in a pouch, and sold the Irish company Retail inMotion to Lufthansa, also lent the company €200,000. In early 2019, an Australian company showed an interest in acquiring Bamboo as a launchpad into the European market. As talks went on, Bamboo continued to spend on its development. When the Australian suitor walked out, Elias moved to inject more funds and take control. Mackey left in early 2020, just months before the pandemic would crater the business. He needed a job — 'I had no savings' — and applied for the role of Ireland manager for Bolt, the mobility app. At 26 he was Bolt's first Irish employee as it looked to challenge the incumbent MyTaxi, which has become FreeNow. 'My job was to open up and grow the market,' he says. 'So that was everything from getting the licences to operate, hiring the core team, finding an office that our drivers could go to, marketing [Bolt] to drivers to get supply, and marketing it with the passengers to get demand. And doing that in a really short period of time.' It was, he says, one of Bolt's most successful launches. One of his tasks was to put a benefits package in place for employees, which then numbered just five. Like most of his peers, Mackey knew nothing about pensions or health insurance. 'I quickly learnt that brokers don't like working with small businesses. We were a five-person team, wanting to set up a pension. That's not very lucrative for them.' Through his mother, Mackey eventually found a helpful broker. He was sent a PDF by email that he downloaded and printed out. 'I had to fill it out and then scan and send it back to the broker,' he says. He circulated the PDF to other members of the team. None filled it out. It was 2021 and the stock markets were roaring, and his peers were busy trading stocks on Revolut. 'They just thought, jeez, this is a pain in the ass.' When the scheme was set up, there was more paper. 'I just thought there has to be a better way to do this,' he says. Mackey circled back and enlisted O'Boyle and Baliga, who had worked on Bamboo, to start developing the app. Its first provider was Irish Life. Kota secured approval to act as an insurance intermediate from the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK and the Central Bank of Ireland, which allowed the company to passport its service into Europe. Mackey never saw himself as an insurance intermediary. 'When you are a broker, it means you can talk to insurance companies,' he says. 'And when you talk to insurance companies, we can show them what the product looks like.' His experiences at Bolt taught him about keeping costs down and building at pace. Under the Kota model, insurers get access to distribution free of charge, while companies pay just €9 a month per employee, considerably lower than broker fees. Kota does not offer advice, but it does offer support. 'We talk through options,' he says. There are no commissions, no contracts, and the HR department is not shuffling mounds of forms and paperwork. Its clients are fast-growing, like Kota itself, which is hurtling towards 50 employees. The roll call includes Tines, arguably Ireland's hottest start-up, Belfast's Cloudsmith and the UK online car marketplace Carwow. It's a natural fit for rising tech stars, and while Kota revenues grow naturally from adding new customers, it also benefits from the growth of its existing customer base. The multiplier effect is potentially very powerful. This time around, fundraising has been an awful lot easier. That is partly because Mackey, O'Boyle and Baliga had done a lot of the groundwork before launch, speaking to up to 70 HR and insurance professionals to thoroughly research the opportunity. The investment deck included 20 pages of research with links back to the conversations. 'There was a lot of data,' Mackey says. The plan was to raise €600,000 for the trio to 'kind of hack away at a product for a year or so, and see where it goes', he says. But the pitch got traction. 'The angel [investor] bit got stoked up and then we got into a pretty hot venture round with VCs offering us a million [euros]. We had people telling us, 'You should really talk to this person'.' It was pushing one open door after another. 'One VC told us we know this area really well, we have been looking at this for the last three years, waiting for somebody with something like this to walk through the door,' he says. The founders met Elise Stern of Eurazeo at Dublin's Dogpatch Labs when they were looking for pre-seed funding. At the time the cheque size did not fit the VC's investment profile. Three years later, when Kota went out on a Series A fundraising, it took Stern just four weeks to sign up. Aside from the heavyweight VCs, Kota can count Cocoa, the high-profile London angel investor, and the early-stage funders Plug and Play and 9 Yards, which was founded by George Osborne, the former UK chancellor, as backers, with the Cape Clear founder David Clarke and Alexis Valentin, the former Meta executive, also on board. Mackey says his ambition is to build 'a great Irish technology company' and ultimately take Kota to the stock market. He certainly has the backers to get there. On a sweltering hot August day he can take stock on how far the company has come. 'It feels like it's still January or February because of just how quickly the year has gone by, and how exciting it's been,' he says. 'And that's just how it feels when you're a start-up. It's warp speed, it's high ambition, it's play to win.' Age: 31Lives: DublinMarital status: Single (in a relationship)Education: CBC Monkstown, National College of IrelandFavourite film: Stand by MeFavourite book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz Working: I get up at 7.20am. I start the morning in the coffee shop, on my laptop, usually for an hour, and then get into the office for 9am or 9.30am, and I am there until about 8pm or 9pm. Then home, dinner and I try to get some exercise. I will do a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon too — it's quiet. It sounds a lot but I genuinely love what I do. Downtime: Saturday is for sleeping in and catching up with friends and family. In the winter weeknights, I went out for a sauna with a few other founders — I know, it's very tech bro — but it's just a great way to clear the mind. I run when I can; my girlfriend runs so we run together. I did my first marathon in Copenhagen last year and hope to do a half-marathon before the end of the year. I used to race mountain bikes and it's something I absolutely miss. Sometimes you work hard to get the freedom to go back to things like that.
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Sunny Mining Launches Next-Generation AI Cloud Mining Platform
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom, August 16, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- Sunny Mining, opens new tab today launched a new artificial intelligence-powered cloud mining platform designed to deliver a one-stop crypto mining experience requiring zero equipment or maintenance. The platform combines intelligent computing power scheduling with green energy systems, allowing users to begin mining bitcoin (BTC) and dogecoin (DOGE) with a single click after registering. Earnings are settled automatically each day. Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Manchester, Sunny Mining serves customers in 195 countries and currently contributes more than 383,000 PH/s of computing power globally. The platform uses AI-driven power allocation and operates entirely on renewable energy. Key Features of the Upgrade Flexible Mining Plans Sunny Mining offers multiple contract options: All plans provide real-time income forecasts and support daily automatic settlements and one-click withdrawal. How to Start Mining Free Trial Offer New users receive a $15 trial bonus, enabling them to activate mining plans at no cost. The promotion allows customers to test Sunny Mining's mining process and profit system risk-free before committing funds. Why Mining Matters Crypto mining secures blockchain networks and issues new coins, but traditional mining requires significant investment and technical knowledge. Sunny Mining simplifies the process through cloud computing, AI technology and robust security protocols, helping users earn sustainable daily crypto income with transparency. Looking Ahead Sunny Mining said it remains committed to innovation and user experience, and will continue enhancing mining efficiency while expanding safe, eco-friendly crypto-asset growth options worldwide. To experience Sunny Mining's new AI cloud mining platform and begin earning BTC and DOGE today, visit or download the Sunny Mining app at About Sunny Mining Sunny Mining is a cutting-edge intelligent cloud mining platform based in Manchester, England. We specialize in providing safe, convenient and eco-friendly cryptocurrency mining services to users worldwide. By leveraging AI computing power and green energy sources, Sunny Mining eliminates the need for personal mining hardware and lowers the barriers to entry for cryptocurrency enthusiasts and environmental advocates alike. Join our growing community and start your smart cloud mining journey with us today. For more information, visit opens new tab. Disclaimer The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risk. There is potential for loss of funds. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Media Contact Sunny Mininginfo@ ### SOURCE: Sunny Mining Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
