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'The Boardroom Eruption Over The Future Of Harley-Davidson' - Wall Street Journal Article
- Thread starter Kitsilano
- Start date
Not before time. The Softail Slim was the very last bike I considered trading my old Fat Boy for. Nothing has interested me since 
………..and I’m fucking old! Lol
Can’t imagine ANY young guy that would consider buying one unless to impress his dad or some other disingenuous shit?!
Can’t imagine ANY young guy that would consider buying one unless to impress his dad or some other disingenuous shit?!
I think HD is seriously fucked; the decision to make them a "premium" brand with stupidly high prices, piss poor dealership attitudes, no entry bike and no new models (a change of paintwork does not constitute a new release) has crippled them. Their sales revenue has been tanking over the last few years, the share price has fell off a cliff and their traditional customer base are either dying off or no longer changing their bikes.
HD made a massive mistake in dropping the Bronx which could have been an entry level bike to get riders into the brand; they had a great water cooled engine from the V-Rod which should have been perfect for new models but instead of exploiting it they dropped it because the old twats riding their bikes wanted ancient air cooled, push rod engines. Brands like Triumph and Royal Enfield are gobbling up the new generation of riders in the USA with affordable good looking lightweight bikes and they will stick with the brands. HD lost a fortune on the Livewire, millions in development and only 900 sold in five years and they came into the Adventure bike market too late, although the Pan Am is a reasonable effort but again it has suffered with lack of ongoing investment and development. With no new bikes in development, nothing to entice new riders to the brand, prices beyond the scope of most riders and a model range perceived by most people as too heavy, under powered, poorly braked and handling and old fashioned I can't see how they are going to turn the ship around especially if the world reacts with tit for tat import tariffs .
HD made a massive mistake in dropping the Bronx which could have been an entry level bike to get riders into the brand; they had a great water cooled engine from the V-Rod which should have been perfect for new models but instead of exploiting it they dropped it because the old twats riding their bikes wanted ancient air cooled, push rod engines. Brands like Triumph and Royal Enfield are gobbling up the new generation of riders in the USA with affordable good looking lightweight bikes and they will stick with the brands. HD lost a fortune on the Livewire, millions in development and only 900 sold in five years and they came into the Adventure bike market too late, although the Pan Am is a reasonable effort but again it has suffered with lack of ongoing investment and development. With no new bikes in development, nothing to entice new riders to the brand, prices beyond the scope of most riders and a model range perceived by most people as too heavy, under powered, poorly braked and handling and old fashioned I can't see how they are going to turn the ship around especially if the world reacts with tit for tat import tariffs .
How is a customer base who want loud engines and lots of chrome going to convert to wanting an EV?
Interesting article and worth a read.
Difficult times ahead for such an iconic brand.
Difficult times ahead for such an iconic brand.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
- Albert Einstein.
- Albert Einstein.
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Pope John Paul II discussing the handling /performance of Police Special model Harley-Davidsons, with Vancouver Police Department VIP escorts team, Vancouver airport, 1984. (Constable Paul Bittante, left, speaking his native Italian with the Holy Father, saying "I can't believe they pay me for having this much fun!"; Constable Ted Almas, right, waiting to ask His Holiness why he hasn't sorted out the legacy of that b*stard Archbishop Makarios, who screwed-over his Greek parents and a couple of million others, in the 1960s).
How would they change this to make it better, look better. ? I think it looks fantastic obviously. Water-cooled engine maybe like I have in my Indian.
Agreed it wasn't the most comfortable but that can be sorted. Under powered Nope.
I haven't tried looking but out of interest how are Indian motorcycles doing in comparison to Harley ?
Agreed it wasn't the most comfortable but that can be sorted. Under powered Nope.
I haven't tried looking but out of interest how are Indian motorcycles doing in comparison to Harley ?
By their very nature HD's are a classic design from a bygone time. The continued modernisation of a motorcycling icon may well have contributed to the current downturn of HD.
I think you're bike at the peak of its evolution, looks great and shouldn't be meddled with any more in the name of so called progress.
FWIW, I think my 1999 bike couldn't be made to look any better and still don't, but what do I know.
(All this of course is leaving aside the progress in performance which had improved immensely over the years).
I'll stick with my old clunker which has behaved itself impeccably over the years taking me on several jaunts, as far from Loch Ness to Lake Bled, and still improving like an aging wine. IMHO of course.
Looks great and like new. No other bike will draw attention like a Harley does. My opinion again and let's hope they sort themselves out.By their very nature HD's are a classic design from a bygone time. The continued modernisation of a motorcycling icon may well have contributed to the current downturn of HD.
I think you're bike at the peak of its evolution, looks great and shouldn't be meddled with any more in the name of so called progress.
FWIW, I think my 1999 bike couldn't be made to look any better and still don't, but what do I know.
(All this of course is leaving aside the progress in performance which had improved immensely over the years).
I'll stick with my old clunker which has behaved itself impeccably over the years taking me on several jaunts, as far from Loch Ness to Lake Bled, and still improving like an aging wine. IMHO of course.
View attachment 402453
That’s a nice rhododendron bush you’ve got yourself, there.By their very nature HD's are a classic design from a bygone time. The continued modernisation of a motorcycling icon may well have contributed to the current downturn of HD.
I think you're bike at the peak of its evolution, looks great and shouldn't be meddled with any more in the name of so called progress.
FWIW, I think my 1999 bike couldn't be made to look any better and still don't, but what do I know.
(All this of course is leaving aside the progress in performance which had improved immensely over the years).
I'll stick with my old clunker which has behaved itself impeccably over the years taking me on several jaunts, as far from Loch Ness to Lake Bled, and still improving like an aging wine. IMHO of course.
View attachment 402453
The bikes not bad, either.
Agreed but it's flowering early
must be a special variety only available over the hill from me.
I actually think Harley should’ve focused more on the stripped down bobber style. When I lived over there, loads of young guys rode the basic pre Evo stuff. Choppers too. The fancy bling ones only appeal to blue hairs
Now there’s way too many European companies making cool retro twins and stealing Harley customers. The opposite isn’t true with Harley’s adventure or XR offerings.
Hopefully they’ll revert back to grass roots………..and win me back for 5 years max!! lol
Hopefully they’ll revert back to grass roots………..and win me back for 5 years max!! lol
Paywall?
