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Promoters for the annual Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Florida, say attendance is down -- a byproduct of the economy.

Frank Luznar, who runs Cacklebery campground next to the Cabbage Patch in Samsula, told the Orlando Sentinel:

"It's weaker, definitely weaker. Bike Week seems to be down 40 to 45percent, and this could be the lousiest year we have."

Still, they hope for a big finish this weekend and some say they will have the anti-motorcycle members of the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, city council to thank for any increase in attendance in Daytona.

"You want to put your money where you're welcome. If you're not welcome in Myrtle Beach perhaps you might come to Daytona, because in my opinion this is the bike capital of the world," biker Dorothy Pearce told WFTV.

Meanwhile, a South Carolina judge has refused to overturn Myrtle Beach's uber-restrictive laws against motorcycles.

(Photo courtesy of DaytonaBikeWeek.Com. Updated March 5, 2009)

Reports The Associated Press:

Harley-Davidson Inc. said Friday it will cut 1,100 jobs over two years, close some facilities and consolidate others as it grapples with a slowdown in motorcycle sales.

The Milwaukee-based company also reported its fourth-quarter profit fell nearly 60 percent, and said it is slashing motorcycle shipments in 2009 to cope with reduced demand.

The iconic motorcycle maker said it will consolidate two engine and transmission plants in Milwaukee into its facility in Menomonee Falls, Wis. It will shrink its paint and frame operations in its York, Pennsylvania, plant and close its distribution facility in Franklin, Wisconsin, whose duties will be handled by a third party.

Harley also said it will end its domestic transportation fleet operation.
The company said the cuts include 800 hourly production positions and 300 non-production, mostly salaried positions. It said 70 percent of the job cuts will occur this year and the rest in 2010.

The cuts will result in one-time charges of $110 million to $140 million over 2009 and 2010, Harley said. Once they are finished, the cuts will save between $60 million and $70 million per year.

Harley has been stung by the rapid downturn in motorcycle demand. The economic recession has prompted many consumers to put off purchases of its high-end bikes, while the credit crunch has kept some would-be customers from obtaining financing.

Reports The Associated Press:

Bruce Springsteen ended his world tour over the weekend, toned down but revved up.

Springsteen played more than 30 songs over 3 1/2 hours Saturday night on Milwaukee's lakefront for Harley-Davidson's 105th anniversary celebration. He made few comments between songs.

Only for a few moments before "Livin' in the Future" did the rocker — who often brings his liberal-leaning political comments to the stage — stray into politics.

Springsteen performed to a crowd not unlike the one that gave Republican presidential candidate John McCain a warm welcome Aug. 4 at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. Many roared their motorcycles during McCain's speech.

Springsteen said "Livin' in the Future" was about what was happening now: cheese, Harley-Davidson motorcycles (tailoring it to his Wisconsin crowd), transfats, "500 channels of nothing on" and the Bill of Rights.

But he also mentioned wire tapping and rendition — the secret transport of terror suspects from one country to another.

"Things that basically at the heart are un-American," he said. The crowd gave spattered groans but mostly stayed silent.