Brasserie Dupont's Posca Rustica on NPR

Beer To Cheer Your Summer Supper

I am a fan and subscriber of National Public Radio. One of the many reasons is Scott Simon, host of NPR's Weekend Edition.  Recently, a segment aired in which Scott asked Graham Haverfield, a rising star in the beer world, to recommend three beers for summer.   Posca Rustica was Simon's favorite. This rare gruit* from the Brasserie Dupont is garnering acclaim from publicans, journalists, top retailers, and foodies who love beer.  If you haven't tried it, you're in for a real treat!  It's the sweetest of the Dupont beers. An excerpt from the Weekend Edition broadcast: "This is a very cool beer, this is basically like a history lesson in a bottle... This is beer like it was brewed back when the Romans were in occupation of Belgium.  Beer in that era had no hops at all, he adds, making it the opposite of the modern IPA. "They used this mixture of spices and herbs to add bitterness to the otherwise sweet beer... It tastes old, not as in not fresh, it just tastes, like, arcane. ... Something like grilled artichokes or rotisserie chicken, anything served at a big table, this would add a great complement to that." - Graham Haverfield, Beer Director for the Wine Library Posca Rustica, known as Cervesia in Belgium, is a “Cervoise” beer inspired by research by Dupont into the drinks of the Gallo-Roman era, and spiced with a dozen herbs, including sweet woodruff and bog myrtle. Bottle-conditioned, beguiling, and unusual, Posca Rustica has a unique, odiferous and spicy character. I'd like to discover what beer tasted like when Belgium was ruled by the Roman Empire.  This beer is served at Archeosite D'Aubechies an open air museum near the brewery, which is all well and good. Unfortunately, according to the BeerMenu website, it is not yet available within 100 miles of Washington, DC.  * an old-fashioned herb mixture used to bitter and flavor beer before hops came to predominate

Nepo's Awakening

I recommend Mark Nepo's wonderful book, The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have.

This book has changed my life. 

Nepo is a poet and philosopher who has infused his day-book with wisdom-filled epigraphs from many faith traditions, and spiced up each daily entry with homily-like stories from his own remarkable life. Each daily entry concludes with suggested meditation activities designed to connect inner and outer lives and increase awareness.  

Nepo's response to life's trials and tribulations gave me an example for managing my own journey when things got rough for me.  Each of us lives our own journey, shared directly with but a few and yet shared indirectly with all humanity. Seeing how Mark Nepo managed divorce, cancer, disappointment, and even despair gave me an example and even a companion.

I read this book every morning and LIVE! 

Political Economics

Politics and Economics: How are the two fields related?

"Politics and economics are completely different fields," Mike said. "Economics is supply and demand. It's markets. Politics is public administration and policy-making. It's statecraft. The fields are related like everything is related to some degree, but a person is not likely to be both a competent economist and a competent politician."

"I see where you are coming from," replied Melissa. "But I have a different perspective. I look at both economics and politics as social sciences. The concept that unites the two fields is the idea of rational choice. From this perspective, economics and politics are inextricably linked! You cannot have one without the other."

How are politics and economics related? Is the relationship tangential, or integral? This question is particularly important in an election year during a down economic cycle.  What is the extent to which capitalist economic interests influence elections, policy-making, and governing?

Such a conversation as the one recalled above sparked my interest in the field of Political Economics. What do you think? How would you have answered the question? Help me gauge your interest in this topic by posting questions in the comments section below.

Meanwhile, to provide additional spark to the conversation, here are a few relevant snippets--definitions, examples, etc.--which I have recently gleaned from the Internet. Links are provided for those interested in further reading.
 

Political economy originally was the term for studying production, buying, and selling, and their relations with law, custom, and government, as well as with the distribution of national income and wealth. Political economy originated in moral philosophy. It developed in the 18th century as the study of the economies of states, polities, hence the term political economy. Read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_economics

The study and use of how economic theory and methods influences political ideology. Political economy is the interplay between economics, law and politics, and how institutions develop in different social and economic systems, such as capitalism, socialism and communism. Political economy analyzes how public policy is created and implemented. Read more: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/political-economy.asp#ixzz21b9QQgDX

Because various individuals and groups have different interests in how a country or economy is to develop, political economy as a discipline is a complex field, covering a broad array of potentially competing interests. Political economy also involves the use of game theory, since groups competing for finite resources and power must determine which courses of action will give the most beneficial results, and what the probability of those results being reached are. Read more: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/political-economy.asp#ixzz21b9hc9y5

Political economics is the science which deals with the natural laws governing the production and distribution of valuable goods and services. Read more: http://www.henrygeorge.org/def2.htm

Because political economy is not a unified discipline, there are studies using the term that overlap in subject matter, but have radically different perspectives:

• Sociology
studies the effects of persons' involvement in society as members of groups, and how that changes their ability to function. Many sociologists start from a perspective of production-determining relation from Karl Marx. Marx's theories on the subject of political economy are contained in his book, Das Kapital.

• Political Science
focuses on the interaction between institutions and human behavior, the way in which the former shapes choices and how the latter change institutional frameworks. Along with economics, it has made the best works in the field by authors like Shepsle, Ostrom, Ordeshook, among others.

• Anthropology
studies political economy by investigating regimes of political and economic value that condition tacit aspects of sociocultural practices (for example, the pejorative use of pseudo-Spanish expressions in the US-American entertainment media) by means of broader historical, political, and sociological processes; analyses of structural features of transnational processes focus on the interactions between the world capitalist system and local cultures.

• Psychology
is the fulcrum on which political economy exerts its force in studying decision-making (not only in prices), but as the field of study whose assumptions model political economy.

• History
documents change, using it to argue political economy; historical works have political economy as the narrative's frame.

• Economics
focuses on markets by leaving the political—governments, states, legal frameworks—as givens. Economics dropped the adjective political in the 19th century, but works backwards, by describing "The Ideal Market", urging governments to formulate policy and law to approach said ideal. Economists and political economists often disagree on what is preeminent in developing production, market, and political structure theories.

• Law
concerns the creation of policy and its mediation via political actions that have specific results, it deals with political economy as political capital and as social infrastructure—and the sociological results of one society upon another.

• Human Geography
is concerned with politico-economic processes, emphasizing space and environment.

• Ecology
deals with political economy, because human activity has the greatest effect upon the environment, its central concern being the environment's suitability for human activity. The ecological effects of economic activity spur research upon changing market economy incentives.

• International Relations
often uses political economy to study political and economic development.

• Cultural Studies
studies social class, production, labor, race, gender, and sex.

• Communication
examines the institutional aspects of media and telecommuncation systems, with particular attention to the historical relationships between owners, labor, consumers, advertisers, and the state.

Read more on related disciplines: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_economy

How the Threat of Losing Beer United a Community

I live in Alexandria, within stumbling distance of Port City Brewing Co. When the recent derecho ripped across the region, power went out for days.

The beer in my fridge is one thing, but when Nature pulls the plug on the the power cooling the beer in Port City's vats, that is another matter entirely!

Here is a great story about how the threat of losing beer united a community. The story appeared in Neighborhoods - The Atlantic Cities.

And here are some follow-up articles about the result!

Derecho Common Debuts
Port City Brewing releases Derecho Common
Derecho Common Beer to Be Tapped

The Dude Imbibes

Brother Todd, artist-in-residence at the Dallas, TX graphic arts firm, 3008 (and fellow Coen Bros fan), has shared some details on his design process. 

The response to Todd's recent poster of the Dude was very positive. He did get some constructive comments, so he set out to make improvements before going final with the poster version. Here is a little photo essay on how Todd created his latest masterwork

The first attempt really captures the idea, man

Todd and I have a younger brother, Kyle, who bears a striking resemblance to the character Jeff Bridges portrays in The Big Lebowski. So striking, in fact, that when I posted the above poster on Facebook, crediting Todd and "tagging" Kyle, our mother apparently thought that I uploaded a photo Todd had taken of Kyle. This image really captures the spirit of the Dude, thoroughly enjoying a White Russian in the morning sun.

The photo that started it all

Todd's poster was not really a picture of our brother Kyle, as believable as that might be to anyone who knows our bro. Kyle's dudeness may have inspired Todd to make the poster in the first place, but the actual genesis of the image we see in the poster was this photo of Jeff Bridges in character as Jeffrey Lebowski, The Dude.

Lots of people want to be, like, the Dude, man

Of course, there are Big Lebowski fans and Dude wanna-bes everywhere! The fellow in the photo above is neither Kyle nor Jeff, but a local DC-area man who also bears a striking resemblance. This photo was taken at a counter-protest when the Westboro Baptist (not) Church (not) appeared at Arlington National Cemetery. I've seen the same guy or his twin at the annual Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse Dude Fest--but that's, like, another story, man.

The likeness is, um, unCANny 

Those of you who are fans of the movie will recognize the above still.  Look closely. Todd has painted our brother Kyle's face on Jeff Bridges' body. Dude needs some TP, man....

 

The rug in the background really ties the poster together, man

Ladies and gentlemen, have a look at the poster, Version 2.0. This little gem will make any fan of The Big Lebowski a very happy camper. When printed on 24x36 glossy poster stock, and signed by the artist in the corner, it should fetch a nice price. I think Todd should sell posters, don't you? Would you buy one? How about one for yourself and another one as a gift for your favorite fan?

The Big Lebowski Mash-Up

Ladies and gentlemen, that's not all. Todd's really on a roll. He has also created this impressive mash-up of stills and quotes from the movie. I think it's better than any studio-produced poster I have ever seen. The Dude is blissfully happy in the midst of all the madness and quirkiness that surrounds him. I not only want that poster framed in my house, I want to be the Dude!

But wait! There's more!

Just kidding...

There is already more than enough.

Just kidding, there is more. One more. One more for you punsters (you know who you are!) Enjoy!

Ancient Ales

Greg Kitsock, a writer for the Washington Post, comments about Embers of the Deceased, a collaboration brew between two local DC brewers, DC Brau and Bluejacket.

I sampled the beer at DC Brau last Saturday. It has a subtle smoky aroma and a mild bacony flavor over a light body and a low, sessionable ABV.

Greg's article provides excellent detail about the historical aspects of the style, known alternately as a Grätzer or Grodziskie.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/all-we-can-eat/post/the-life-left-in-embers-of-the-deceased/2012/08/25/09bb7668-eee9-11e1-b0eb-dac6b50187ad_blog.html

In his article, Greg asks the rhetorical question which sparked this post: are you a fan of extinct beer styles revived Jurassic Park-style?


Ancient ales. Forgotten recipes. Neglected techniques. Rediscovered ingredients. How much interest is there in reviving old beer styles? What long-lost brew will hit the shelves next? And will anyone buy it?

Or were such ancient ales "lost" from civilization for good reason?


What say you?

Bikes, Blues & BBQ Motorcycle Rally, Sept. 26-29

Bikes, Blues & BBQ Rally 

I'm just back from Sturgis and I have Rally Fever!  Check this one out (a winner based on NAME alone!) 


Bikes, Blues & BBQ

Dates: September 26 – September 29

Location: Fayetville, Arkansas

The Bikes, Blues and BBQ Motorcycle Rally is located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, and has some of the best roads and scenery for riding in the country! The rally looks like a great time: stage shows, vendors, car and bike shows, poker runs, lots of things to see and do when not riding, and most importantly,the opportunity to Ride the Beautiful Ozarks.

Get Maps for Some Great Rides.

To help make your riding experience more enjoyable we have developed a series of maps using Google Maps. Click the links below, print out the map and explore the different routes.

• BBB Rally Map
• BBB Parade of Power Route
• Alpena Ride
• Eureka Springs Ride
• Gateway Ride
• Hub Ride
• Joplin, Missouri, Ride
• Noel, Missouri, Ride
• “Old Town” Van Buren Ride
• Pig Trail Ride
• Roaring River Ride
• Siloam Springs Ride
• Winslow Ride

Northwest Arkansas Area Websites

• Local Weather from KNWA
• Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce
• Fayetteville Visitors Bureau
• Area Attractions
• Northwest Arkansas Tourism Association
• Arkansas State Department of Tourism

Check Out What the Area Has to Offer.

Bikes, Blues & BBQ is the largest family-friendly motorcycle rally in the country, and Northwest Arkansas is full of fun things for bikers and their families to do when they aren’t riding:  outdoor activities like hiking, caving, or camping, or if you just want to catch a movie, a stage show, or take advantage of some of the great shopping at the area malls, Northwest Arkansas has you covered.

Be sure and take in “The Switzerland of the Ozarks”, Eureka Springs, on your visit to BBB. Eureka Springs is a very “biker friendly” town with great restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and bars, as well as perfect riding roads through amazing scenery.  And Eureka Springs will be hosting the “Art of the Motorcycle” art show at the Convention Center at the Best Western Inn of the Ozarks on Saturday of the rally.  On display, there will be art work of every sort, all pertaining to our personal favorite mode of transportation, from some of the finest artists in the nation.

Attitude = Everything

I am normally a fairly calm, rational, and level-headed person....

That's just my opinion, of course, but I think my friends and even my enemy would agree. Meanwhile, I am here to tell you, there is a dramatic personality transformation that takes place every time I mount my steely steed and head for the highway.

Open-air riding is a rush and a power trip. There's nothing like it! That said, riding at speed on a highway crowded with inattentive cagers can be a nerve-wracking experience.  To stay safe on the road in spite of the tendency for some drivers to overlook bikes when they bother to look at all, I become hyper-vigilant. In fact, I compensate for my obvious vulnerability by adopting the attitude and persona of a vigilante.

On my Road King, I morph into the King of the Road. My eyes are scanning for danger continually. I look into every other driver's eyes and make an instant risk assessment. Trust me, when my paint job is on the line, the feedback I give is decisive, clear, and unambiguous. I share "my" road with others at my discretion.

[rant]

Follow these "Seven Rules of the Road" and we'll get along just fine.

• Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way! I am looking at you, Grandpa. That's your turn signal, not your pacemaker, it's OK to turn it off when you're done!
• When I make eye contact with you, I want to see full awareness in your eyes. I want to know that you see and acknowledge me. Courtesy is optional. Respect is mandatory. If you are too tired to drive, maybe my loud-assed pipes will perk you up! LPSL!
• Stay to the right except to pass. No parking in the passing lane!  Move it on over, big dog! No, I will never pass you on the right. That is dumb, dangerous, and just plain wrong. Instead, if you refuse to yield, I will simply use my Hiawatha high beams to drill a hole in the back of your head.
• For you, littering is just rude, unlawful, disgusting behavior consistent with your lackluster character. For me, that cigarette butt is just one more bit of debris I need to dodge. Congratulations, douchebag. I just took a picture of your hand, your candy wrapper, and your license plate with my frame-mounted GoPro HD action camera.  Enjoy the $1500 fine. 
• Get the crumpled fender fixed; you're making me nervous!
• If you can't keep your windshield clean, how do I know you can check your tire pressure? You did check your tire pressure, didn't you?
• Put down your cell phone and pay attention--to me! I've only got two wheels here. Hey, stay in your own lane! 

So if you drive, share the road with us bikers. If you cannot share the road because you want to, at least share it because you know you should. Look: you will share the road even if  I have to take my half out of the middle while you are playing with your radio. My point? We are both traveling on the highway of life. You might as well share the road with a smile.

And, please! For Pete's sake, put. the. cell phone. down! You're a menace with that thing. That text message? It can wait!

By the way, just so we're crystal clear, if you cross over into my lane one more time, you will be

 entering a world of pain! I'm talking 
           middle-finger-flipping, 
                    high-beam-tripping, 
                              horn-button-gripping
                                        loud-pipe-ripping 
                                      pain!

[/rant]

Being a rider has made me a much more attentive driver, which is to say I have not always been as attentive as I should be. I wish all drivers could be more empathetic to riders. By the same token, being a rider has made me much more defensive. Riders must be aggressively and actively defensive to stay safe on the road. Attitude is everything!

H/T to BK

Love on Tap - VA Celebrates Craft Beer!

I enjoyed this article from NYTimes.com: Love on Tap - Va Celebrating Craft Beer Industry

Virginia — named by the Travel Channel as one of the Top 7 beer destinations in North America — has designated August as Virginia Craft Beer month.

The article features these Virginia brewers

• Devils Backbone Brewing Company in Nelson County
• Legend Brewing Co., Richmond
• Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond 

With more than 2,125 breweries nationwide, craft brewers make up a nearly $9 billion industry and provide about 104,000 jobs across the country, according to the Brewers Association, the trade group representing the majority of U.S. brewing companies. And the industry, which sold about 11.5 million barrels of beer in 2011, has seen volumes grow 13 percent compared with 2010. By comparison, the overall U.S. beer market is estimated to be a $96 billion industry and sold nearly 200 million barrels of beer last year.

Larger brewers are even trying to capitalize on the craft brew craze. Anheuser-Busch this summer introduced a beer named for the 23185 ZIP code, where the brewmaster at its Williamsburg facility created the small-batch beer as part of a new Budweiser program called "Project 12." The project created small-batch beers at 12 of its breweries. After being pared down to six, consumer feedback will help pick the beers to be included in a limited-edition sampler pack this fall.

Support your LOCAL brewers: 

Drink locally made, CRAFT-BREWED beer! 

Introducing the new 2013 Harley-Davidson Motorcycles!

All totaled, in 2013 the Motor Company is rolling out 5 Sportsters, 5 Dynas, 7 Softails, 8 Touring models, 2 V-Rods, a Trike, 4 CVO models, ten 110th H-D Anniversary editions, and fifteen Police, Fire, Rescue, Special and Shine editions. For the record, only 2 models made in 2012 were discontinued: XL1200N Nightster, and XR1200X.

The links will take you to TotalMotorcycles.com for their photos and descriptions of each model.  

Sportster (5)
- 2013 Harley-Davidson XL883L Sportster 883 SuperLow
- 2013 Harley-Davidson XL883N Iron 883
- 2013 Harley-Davidson XL1200C Sportster 1200 Custom
- 2013 Harley-Davidson XL1200X Forty-Eight 48
- 2013 Harley-Davidson XL1200V Seventy-Two

Dyna (5)
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FXDB Dyna Street Bob - Restyled for 2013
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FXDC Dyna Super Glide Custom
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FXDF Dyna Fat Bob
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FXDWG Dyna Wide Glide
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLD Dyna Switchback

Softail (7)
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTF Fat Boy
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTFB Fat Boy Lo
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTFB Fat Boy Special - UK only
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTN Softail Deluxe- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLS Slim
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FXS Blackline

Touring (8)
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHR Road King
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHRC Road King Classic
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTC Electra Glide Classic
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU Ultra Classic Electra Glide
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTK Electra Glide Ultra Limited
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHX Street Glide
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLTRX Road Glide Custom
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLTRU Road Glide Ultra

VRSC (2)
- 2013 Harley-Davidson VRSCDX Night Rod Special 
- 2013 Harley-Davidson VRSCF V-Rod Muscle

Tri Glide (Motorcycle Trike) (1)
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUTG Tri Glide Ultra Classic

CVO (Custom Vehicle Operations) (4)
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE5 CVO Road King

- 2013 Harley-Davidson FXSBSE CVO Breakout - New for 2013
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLTRXSE2 CVO Road Glide Custom

- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUSE8 CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide

110th H-D Anniversary Editions (10)
- 2013 Harley-Davidson XL1200C Sportster 1200 Custom 110th Anniversary
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FXDC Dyna Super Glide Custom 110th Anniversary
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic 110th Anniversary
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTFB Softail Fat Boy Lo 110th Anniversary
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTFB Softail Fat Boy Special 110th Anniversary - UK Only 

- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHR Road King 110th Anniversary
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTK Electra Glide Ultra Limited 110th Anniversary
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHRSE5 CVO Road King 110th Anniversary
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLTRXSE2 CVO Road Glide Custom 110th Anniversary
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUSE8 CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide 110th Anniversary

Police, Fire, Rescue, Special and Shrine Editions (15)
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTP Electra Glide Police
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHP Road King Police
- 2013 Harley-Davidson XL883L Sportster Police
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTP Electra Glide Fire/Rescue
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHP Road King Fire/Rescue
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU Ultra Classic Electra Glide Peace Officer
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU Ultra Classic Electra Glide Firefighter- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTCU Ultra Classic Electra Glide Shrine
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic Peace Officer
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic Firefighter
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLSTC Heritage Softail Classic Shrine
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHR Road King Peace Officer
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHR Road King Firefighter
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHR Road King Shrine
- 2013 Harley-Davidson FLHTCUTG Tri Glide Ultra Classic Shrine

Twin Cam 103 V-Twin Engine
- Harley-Davidson Twin Cam 103 V-Twin Engine Review

Discontinued 2012 Harley-Davidson models (2)

- 2012 Harley-Davidson XL1200N Nightster
- 2012 Harley-Davidson XR1200X

Accessed 23 August 2012 from http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/motorcycles/2013models/2013-HarleyDavidson.htm

Harley-Davidson's 110th Anniversary models, options

Introductory note: This post is an excerpt from a story that appears in the National Harley-Davidson Examiner. The original article features a slide show of selected new models buried in a TON of annoying ads. I have focused attention on the Road King in this excerpt.



New models and options in 2013 for Harley-Davidson's 110th Anniversary


2013 is going to be a banner year for Harley-Davidson as it rolls into its 110th continuous year of producing the great American classic motorcycle. Special editions due to debut this production year include:

• A restyled Dyna Street Bob model;
• The Custom Vehicle Operations (CVO) Breakout which is a high-performance Softail; and 
• The CVO Road King which will be fitted with an innovative vented windshield, high-output audio system, and fairing lowers (pictured below).

2013 CVO Road King

Also new is the Hard Candy Custom which is a styling movement rooted in themes first seen in the chopper era of the late 1960s that embraces dazzling metal flake paint, brilliant chrome, and styling details in accessories, gear and apparel. Hard Candy Custom elements include “big flake” paint finishes, three of which will be selectively offered as a solid-color option on five Harley-Davidson production motorcycles for 2013.

H-D1 Factory Customization expands with the Street Bob joining the 1200 Custom as Harley-Davidson models in the web-based program that allows customers to select factory-installed options in more than 2,000 combinations, build a bike on the screen, and then order it through an HD dealer.

2013 FLHR AE, the 110th Anniversary Edition Road King

Additional highlights of the 2013 Harley-Davidson line include:

• Ten Harley-Davidson models (including the Road King, pictured above) are offered as 110th Anniversary Editions, each serialized and featuring exclusive paint and commemorative solid bronze fuel tank badges. Production will vary by model and will be strictly limited to ensure exclusivity. These models come with all available factory-installed options as standard equipment.

• The Harley-Davidson Street Bob will have a tougher profile for 2013 with new blacked-out triple clamps and powertrain, and a chopped rear fender with side-mounted license plate and stop/turn/tail lights. This rowdy Dyna bobber features a solo seat and mini-ape handlebar mounted on new risers that make it easier to customize the Street Bob. New paint options include Hard Candy Custom metalflake and a scalloped two-tone option.

• The Street Bob serves as a great starting point for customization, and now along with the 1200 Custom it can be personalized through H-D1 Factory Customization with options selected by the customer using the online Bike Builder on Harley-Davidson.com, and installed as the motorcycle is assembled by the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. By choosing from different wheels, paint and engine finishes, the customer can dramatically alter the look of the motorcycle. Different combinations of foot-control location, seat choices and handlebar can be selected to adjust the fit of the motorcycle to rider stature.

• Hard Candy Custom embraces a trend that’s reemerged from garages around the globe. Now the sparkle of Hard Candy Big Red Flake, Hard Candy Lucky Green Flake and Hard Candy Coloma Gold Flake can be ordered as Original Equipment paint and serve as the foundation for personal customization. At least one Hard Candy Custom color will be offered on these Harley-Davidson motorcycle models: Seventy-Two, Street Bob, Blackline, Softail Deluxe, and Forty-Eight.

• The 2013 CVO series of limited-production premium custom motorcycles features the new CVO Breakout, a bold Softail model that takes production motorcycle finishes to a new level with two paint schemes that feature hand-polished steel sections on the fuel tank and fenders. The CVO Road King offers the first factory-installed Road King audio system, and the new detachable Vented Wind Splitter windshield. The super-premium touring CVO Ultra Classic Electra Glide and shark-nose CVO Road Glide Custom bagger return with new features for 2013.

• The versatile Harley-Davidson Sportster line includes five models, plus the Sportster 1200 Custom Anniversary Edition. New colors and graphics are offered on all Sportster models.

• The traditional “hard tail” lines of the Harley-Davidson Softail platform are offered on six models, including the Softail Slim, a back-to-basics 1950’s-style bobber introduce mid-year 2012. The 2013 Fat Boy now features Mirror Chrome Aluminum Bullet Hole Disc wheels as standard equipment. The Softail line also includes Heritage Softail Classic Anniversary Edition and the Fat Boy Lo Anniversary Edition.

• Eight Harley-Davidson Touring models, from the slammed-and-trimmed Street Glide to the fully equipped Electra Glide Ultra Limited, are ready to tackle the long road with fresh color and graphics options. The Road King Anniversary Edition and Electra Glide Ultra Limited Anniversary Edition are available in limited quantities for 2013.

• The smooth-handling 2013 Dyna line includes the re-styled Street Bob and four more models, plus the Super Glide Custom Anniversary Edition.

• The aggressive Harley-Davidson V-Rod power-cruiser line features the Night Rod Special and V-Rod Muscle, each available in new colors for 2013.

• Riders looking for a Trike option with Harley-Davidson quality can turn to the Tri Glide Ultra Classic, also available Tri Glide Ultra Classic Anniversary Edition to celebrate a milestone.

Excerpted and lightly edited from - National Harley-Davidson | Examiner.com "New models and options in 2013 for Harley-Davidson's 110th Anniversary" Aug 21, 2012