No More Harley Davidsky

Ruskies may have to ride Japanese bikes, if Japan companies are still in the Motherland

The iconic American motorcycle company has suspended shipments and business in Russia. Officials cited the Vladimir Putin's military invasion of the Ukraine as the cause.

Vladimir Putin has been photographed riding Harley Davidson motorcycles. The authoritarian leader of Russia often cultivates a macho image to the Russian population. And he has cozied up to Russian motorcycle gangs or clubs, even cultivating them during his previous military invasion of Georgia to the south of Russia a few years ago.

Guy in a Harley shirt at American motorcycle rally:

The Russian component of the Harley Davidson business is small. The company has only 10 dealerships in the entire country. The European Union by contrast has 369 Harley dealerships. That is second only to the United States, which of course is the homeland of Harley Davidson.

Russian motorcycles

There are Russian-made motorcycles. Some are even sold in the United States. But none with the cache even close to that of Harley Davidson.