A lot is happening in 2002 in the world of American-V, but the big one for the biggest manufacturer will undoubtedly be 2003 when Harley-Davidson celebrate their 100th Birthday. Quick round-up tho':

The big news is old news now, in that the V-Rod - the VRSCA - has introduced a whole new line to the Harley-Davidson range. Pre-production models from 2001 will now be so much recycled aluminium but you can now buy one from the production line, if you can find one. After a couple of years absence from the shores of the UK, Harley Davidson have reintroduced the Springer Softail, but not the Heritage Springer. A limited edition Sportster, the 883R, increases the numbers of available XLs and serves as a tribute to the XR750 motor that has very little common ancestry, if we're being honest. Dynas get a 150-section rear tyre, and everything but the tourers get the bullet indicators originally fitted to the custom models.

Victory have made a few changes, but it remains to be seen what happens with them in the UK. The Sportcuiser - SC - is out, and a new Roadking-targetted bagger - TC - is in but we have no details on the arrival in the UK of the TC, or the demise of the SC. The TC also comes in deluxe mode with more dress-up bits. The V92 engine has been tweaked a little further to give an additional 25% more power with 10% less fuel consumption: neat trick. One additional snippet of news is that Victory will now be handling their UK sales directly as of the Autumn, rather than dealing through agents, Barrus.

Buell are at something of a crossroads: the Cyclone and the Lightning make their curtain calls in 2002, with production ceasing in the summer - the traditional end of model year production at the Motor Company - and the Firebolt XB9R takes up the challenge of carrying Erik's banner forward. Buell are at pains to explain that the new generation frame will form the basis of the next generation of models, and equally keen to stress that they have no plans for any water-cooled engine units - probably to shut up those who insist the VR's natural place is in the tighter trellis from Troy.

Excelsior-Henderson won't be doing an encore, which based on Rich's experience of the model he rode in Daytona a few years ago, is a great shame.

There is a new motor at Indian, the Powerplus 100, which was generated by Indian but we have reason to believe that it is a re-engineered S&S motor. Whatever it is, it brings the Iron Redskin back to life as an Aluminiun Redskin with a lot of pointers to their heritage. Appeared briefly at Daytona but the test rides didn't extend beyond the first Sunday and there are no shortage of rumours as to why, but speculation isn't always healthy. No-one at IMCOA is talking to us so we can't tell you much more, but if we can elicit a response, we'll get back to you.

We are pleased to tell you that Confederate have reappeared from the wilderness - their site was down for the best part of some time and we'd all but written them off: they've been holed-up in their Louisiana base redesigning their Hellcat and have brought forth the G2 Hellcat: 135bhp of American musclebike. All we need to do is get one of them to the UK, or one of us to the US to see what's what.

We still haven't got round to doing a roundup of the also-rans from the land of the rising sun. The reasons for this are two-fold: first, it isn't important enough to spend the required amount of time putting it together; and we haven't got any spare time.

Still looking at swinging a leg across the VTX which, as an American-built V-Twin, is within our editorial remit but time and interest are issues again. We understand the power is there, but the character isn't - only a proper roadtest will tell.