Harley sales, income up

Figures don't lie: Harley-Davidson is making a profit.

According to published reports,income for Harley's second quarter was $190.6 million, a 36.8% hike over the second quarter of l2010 while U.S. sales of new motorcycles rose 7.5%. It's the first year-over-year quarterly increase since the fourth quarter of 2006.

Harley Davidson generated $1.34 billion in sales, well ahead of a the predicted $1.263 billion in sales. The company's second quarter earnings per share  - $0.81 - also exceeded expectations ($0.71).

Time Magazine business blog suggests that the sales increase is not because more bikers are working, but because more Harley buyers are outside of the traditional biker demographic.

"Harley's core customers are not the stereotypical tattooed, blue-collar biker dudes. They're affluent white men over the age of 35, with average incomes around $80,000," the blog suggests.