Edinburgh Harley Davidson closing

[GSite]

Sounds as if Eastern Western Motor Group profitability from the brand is not what the directors feel it should be.
I have been told that Harley are imposing expensive corporate branding, capital investment, business structures, proceedures, sales and performance targets, blah blah so it is no surprise that dealership groups are dropping the brand. Seems to me that Harley have lost the plot and are in no position to dictate to dealers the way thay do. A trend that in my view will continue until only the big boys are left such as Warrs in London and I doubt if Harley would want to lose them.

 

[twizzle]

I didn't know tbh.

Look on your front right hand frame tube at the signage

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

Built by Ting Tong from Ping Pong

 

[Pukmeister]

I really ought to invest in a set of cam timing tools for my 1250 the way bike dealers are disappearing so quickly.

 

[TIJ650]

Sounds as if Eastern Western Motor Group profitability from the brand is not what the directors feel it should be.
I have been told that Harley are imposing expensive corporate branding, capital investment, business structures, proceedures, sales and performance targets, blah blah so it is no surprise that dealership groups are dropping the brand. Seems to me that Harley have lost the plot and are in no position to dictate to dealers the way thay do. A trend that in my view will continue until only the big boys are left such as Warrs in London and I doubt if Harley would want to lose them.

I think their (Harley) whole woke agenda fucked them too. Just like Bud Light. I really don’t think their core customer base in America will forgive them in a hurry. Some of the new bike models are questionable too

 

[Posh Pete]

Sounds as if Eastern Western Motor Group profitability from the brand is not what the directors feel it should be.
I have been told that Harley are imposing expensive corporate branding, capital investment, business structures, proceedures, sales and performance targets, blah blah so it is no surprise that dealership groups are dropping the brand. Seems to me that Harley have lost the plot and are in no position to dictate to dealers the way thay do. A trend that in my view will continue until only the big boys are left such as Warrs in London and I doubt if Harley would want to lose them.

The BMW approach from decades ago when many long standing and well respected dealers dropped them. Given recent legislation which allows servicing etc to be done by non OEM dealers and developments such as online purchasing, one wonders how long this kind of brand strategy can be sustained?

 

[GSite]

Wonder why brands don't realise that this approach has been and will continue to be their downfall if things don't change.
Surely simple logic shows that you can't squeeze dealers too hard when they are competing for business from a diminishing pool of customers who are well informed and will respond accordingly, with their wallets.

 

[fatbaldbob]

Given recent legislation which allows servicing etc to be done by non OEM dealers

This is not nor has it ever been the case. The legislation only refers to vehicles with 3 or more wheels it has never been the case for motorcycles. Yes you are free to have your bike serviced wherever you like by whoever you like and better if they use OEM parts, however if you need warranty work you could potentially face problems. Some brands may outright refuse to help, others may be ok if you can prove servicing as per schedule with OEM parts, it’s a gamble but the legislation will not help you as bikes are not covered.

I have looked at this in detail following the loss of the only Indian dealer in Scotland and me having not long got a virtually new bike that I quickly put 10k miles on and needed a service. The nearest dealer is now a 600 + mile round trip away. For warranty Indian we’re ok with independent servicing providing OEM or equivalent spec parts are used, in fact the owners handbook says “competent person” in relation to servicing. So I bought an OEM service kit, printed off the service schedule and did it myself, ticking each item off and taking photos of the service kit and receipts. I also know it’s been done properly as has not been the case with main dealers, BMW being one of the worst for not doing what they say they have or leaving bits off or bolts loose.

To be honest I don’t think many would argue if you have proof it’s been done as per the book. In the article below many manufacturers said they are ok with it BMW amongst them but interestingly HD would not comment.

It’s all here: Independent Servicing

 

[Stanley Knife]

The future does look pretty bleak for Harley and they seem unable to see it, the RRP prices of the 2025 range are just crazy and charging so much extra for a colour choice such as gloss black is not helping.

'Union Made in the USA' no more.

 

[Big Si]

The future does look pretty bleak for Harley and they seem unable to see it, the RRP prices of the 2025 range are just crazy and charging so much extra for a colour choice such as gloss black is not helping.

'Union Made in the USA' no more.

Yes, the base "H-D Vivid black" colour now being a chargeable optional extra I found shocking too.

 

[Posh Pete]

This is not nor has it ever been the case. The legislation only refers to vehicles with 3 or more wheels it has never been the case for motorcycles. Yes you are free to have your bike serviced wherever you like by whoever you like and better if they use OEM parts, however if you need warranty work you could potentially face problems. Some brands may outright refuse to help, others may be ok if you can prove servicing as per schedule with OEM parts, it’s a gamble but the legislation will not help you as bikes are not covered.

I have looked at this in detail following the loss of the only Indian dealer in Scotland and me having not long got a virtually new bike that I quickly put 10k miles on and needed a service. The nearest dealer is now a 600 + mile round trip away. For warranty Indian we’re ok with independent servicing providing OEM or equivalent spec parts are used, in fact the owners handbook says “competent person” in relation to servicing. So I bought an OEM service kit, printed off the service schedule and did it myself, ticking each item off and taking photos of the service kit and receipts. I also know it’s been done properly as has not been the case with main dealers, BMW being one of the worst for not doing what they say they have or leaving bits off or bolts loose.

To be honest I don’t think many would argue if you have proof it’s been done as per the book. In the article below many manufacturers said they are ok with it BMW amongst them but interestingly HD would not comment.

It’s all here: Independent Servicing

I'll take your word for it Bob but I think the trend of sole manufacturer franchises with all the glitzy (and expensive) brand identity frippery has had its day. There's a happy medium between this and the grimy back street dealers of the past and we passed that point some years ago imho.

 

[GSite]

Yes, the base "H-D Vivid black" colour now being a chargeable optional extra I found shocking too.

Crazy, £550 for vivid black on most models ! Why change something that has been the "standard" colour for many years, some would say simple economics to maximise profit, I say sheer greed to fleece customers. The same can be said for most car makers where a flat white or red is now a cost option with some shity brown, beige, yellowish or green metallic the standard. They know full well that such colours are not popular and affect residual value or desirability down the line and so manipulate folk into paying extra for a "safe" colour so to speak.

 

[JoeBiff]

EHD are part of an £800m T/O dealership group - these guys bought in during the good times and bale out when it gets tougher - p&l decision making

They managed to continue trading through the last recession - I bought a new FLSTHCXYZ from them way back then.
In business, you cut off dead legs to survive, but the reality is fewer buyers of high end toys?
That boils down to the MoCo pricing strategy?