heard Harley's having some problems

[Steve]

Read on msn this morning >>

More troubles for Harley-Davidson - MSN Money

where Harley is having a tough go of it. People talk about it as an old mans bike, breaks down a lot, too expensive, ride American -- buy a Harley, younger kids are either getting away from cycles or they buy ricers that are reliable rigs.
I say go buy a Dog and make your own way. Best thing I've done in a long time is buy that Mastiff -- it's the only time I smile! I hope BDM understands Harley issues and learns from their mistakes.

What does everyone else think? Like to hear what you all have to say?
Steve.

 

[Moespeeds]

The Harley dealership near me had a sportbike day Saturday. The reason was to try to draw sportbikers to the Harley side. I was into sportbikes from '99 to 2003 but it was a whole different culture then. Nowadays these guys are customizing their crotch rockets as much as the cruiser types. at a show Monday night I saw an army of rice with custom paint, lights, and custom fixtures that went beyond bolt on. I think everyone is holding onto their money right now, and instead of buying new bikes they are spending a little more time changing up what they have. Harley will feel this as much as anyone else. Everybody is broke right now.

 

[TheDeadOne]

I don't think that too many people are buying much of anything in this unstable & unforeseeable economy!

 

[justinridgeback]

Without a doubt in these tough economic times one of the first things to go from budgets are luxury items.

The upside though is some people will be looking for more cost effective transportation such as a motorcycle. Only issue is with Harley's and BDM and other customs out there, the pricetag is well out of reach for most. They will start with foreign made bikes. For someone looking for a ride to work...doesn't make sense to buy a 16.9K Harley when they can get a reliable 750 or higher from Honda for 6K. I think in today's market it all boils down to cost, and that is the brunt of HOG's issues.

 

[T Mack]

too bad

give me 0% fin. for 56 months i will buy me a new street glide!!!!!!!!

 

[Marco Polo]

Hard economic times like these are exactly what started companies like Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki in motorcycles in the first place and why Yamaha was able to grow to the size they are now. Those companies are based on perfect performance at a perfect price, not sloth, excess, and stagnation. It's no wonder that "luxury" brands like HD are going to take the hit the hardest. People can still ditch their car for a cheaper and more fuel efficient Japanese bike but with Harley what you see are people getting rid of the HD they have so they can afford other things. Nobody in their right mind buys a Harley or production custom like BDs to save money. Not meaning to knock on HD or anything, it's just that you have to be willing to change with the times and adapt to survive or you pay the price just like GM and every other bogged down corporation that's getting slammed now. I'm sure they'll survive again just fine like I hope they do but I also hope it's another wake-up call for them.

 

[T Mack]

Basically..
they need to lower the fucking price on these bikes!!!

 

[Marco Polo]

Basically..
they need to lower the fucking price on these bikes!!!

If they're having problems turning a profit with their current prices under the current structure then lowering the prices is only going to send them further in the hole. They need to figure out how to cut corporate cost and build a bike as solid as the Japanese that won't cost them twice what they spend now to produce so they can sell it for a competitive price.

A lot of people quit buying American because so often they found it was just junk and cost more. HD needs to change that in the motorcycle world, or at least try to change that perception. It's pretty sad when a guy on a $9K Yamaha gets told by 4 Harley riders how much nicer, faster, and dependable his bike is and then procede to each share their Harley ownership nightmare stories. And I wish I could say that was a rare thing when I owned mine but sadly, it really wasn't.

 

[jsub]

Well at least they are not asking for a government handout with our money.

 

[T Mack]

Well at least they are not asking for a government handout with our money.

YET:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[Marco Polo]

Well at least they are not asking for a government handout with our money.

Umm... guess again. They put in their request months ago for bailout funds. Here's an article from January with more details.

 

[vej]

Well at least they are not asking for a government handout with our money.

YET

 

[jsub]

Umm... guess again. They put in their request months ago for bailout funds. Here's an article from January with more details.

Well those stinkers, I stand corrected.

 

[JeffShoots]

A lot of people quit buying American because so often they found it was just junk and cost more. HD needs to change that in the motorcycle world, or at least try to change that perception. It's pretty sad when a guy on a $9K Yamaha gets told by 4 Harley riders how much nicer, faster, and dependable his bike is and then procede to each share their Harley ownership nightmare stories. And I wish I could say that was a rare thing when I owned mine but sadly, it really wasn't.

It's nice to have both and be on both sides of the conversation. I've loved the Harley's and chop's but I've had 4 Jap bikes and never had any problems even with my high HP 1000 that has a custom built motor

HD=Hundreds of Dollars and my HD Dealer told me that :bang:

Frustrating that everybody knows you go on a long trip with an HD have a chase truck...............when I was just with my Jap riding buddies I didn't even know what a chase truck was for?

 

[jimizee028]

GREED,its unbelievable in all of corporate america,you would think they sell an american bike,they would also sell american idealism ,(well they are older idealisms.maybe a generation or 2 ago )and that they would abide by the american idealism of yesterday gone by but what makes us think they are any different????the politics of any organization slowly rots the group from the inside out and slowly leads to decay.......you can only be "IT" for 15 minutes,and i would say WILLIE AND FAMILYS 15 minutes is almost up!!!!!not that there wont be any HARLEY DAVIDSON anymore,i just think most of americas thought process financially are about to do a 180 and we just aint gonna pay for overpriced things much longer...if i had it to do all over again i wouldnt buy a new BIG DOG,i would buy used for 1/2 the money,if i was to get in a jam right now i would loose at least $15,000 on my bike.just my opinionated opinion......

 

[barhopper]

GREEDi just think most of americas thought process financially are about to do a 180 and we just aint gonna pay for overpriced things much longer...if i had it to do all over again i wouldnt buy a new BIG DOG,i would buy used for 1/2 the money,if i was to get in a jam right now i would loose at least $15,000 on my bike.just my opinionated opinion......

I can't agree more.

 

[Marco Polo]

I bought my first bike new and I learned quickly how ridiculous that is when there are so many out there with hardly any miles on them that are just as clean and shiny but without all the dealer hassle, high price, and extra charges. I bought my next one used and sold it for a little more then I paid for it (of course I put a few grand of mods on it) and swore I'd always buy used. The only problem came when the bike I wanted just didn't exist used, so I was stuck with the dealer again when I bought my '09 Wolf. There's nothing else like it so I had to pay the piper to have one or wait. I don't do waiting very well. I imagine I'd probably lose 10K if I sold it now and it's still not even had it's first service yet so you are absolutely right jimizee.

 

[Steve]

Jimizee028, I agree. Harley, Big Dog and American Choppers in general better pull their head out otherwise they'll all follow one another down the toilet. Personally, I don't understand what the hell (HD)is doing -- it's not that fucking hard to figure out -just look around the world and see what is happening. Harley is huge -- they got Marketing, R&D, etc... What is so hard? Or maybe, the CEO and upper management only care about their present pay check? I can't believe they asked for bailout!!
Yesterday, I filled out the Big Dog marketing survey that Raywood had posted on this forum. After I filled out the survey I went one step further and sent an email to "Marketing" at Big Dog and told them to read the same msn link that was mentioned at the beginning of this thread. I told Big Dog, my age, gender, etc... and that I bought a Big Dog a while ago plus I told them if they didn't want to follow Harley then they better pay attention. I even made the comment to them to fix up their "very basic" web site and that if they did, they could reap huge profit and then flop the revenue toward R&D. I want to support Big Dog so as a consumer that was the only way I knew --my two cents anyway. Lastly, I've had a few Jap dirt bikes growing up, rode the shit out of them and didn't do one thing except change the oil, grease 'em up and general maintenance -- and I lived on the things for years. I've rode atv's for a good twenty years and didn't do anything to those either -- just the normal maintenance. I remember rolling my atv -- a few different times. One time in particular it must have rolled 10 times down a mountain, took out a bobbed wire fence, hit a huge tree and all I did was walk down the hill straightened the handle bars, let it sit right side up for 5 to 10 minutes fired it up and rode it the rest of the year -- without doing anything to it. The point, and I'l finish my jibberish, Jap bikes simply run better -- a lot better. Why doesn't the American chopper follow suit? Why isn't Big Dog on this forum? I want ya all to know that I am not bashing Big Dog a bit -- I just want them to be successfull, keep on building kick ass bikes and keep the consumer from getting screwed. I know one thing, I didn't dump 20k into a bike to be working on it all the time. I hope it lasts -- I'm counting on it.
Steve.
Steve.

 

[fmschatz]

They needed money. Especially in their credit arm so they could finance their bikes to everyone when the banks tightened credit. Theat is why Warren Buffett loaned them what 100 million dollars i believe

 

[Thumper169]

I love BD and HD but under the current times everyone is struggling, HD needs to get their head outa the clouds and make something more dependable,cheaper and market the younger riders. BD needs to fix their problems like the crappy transmissions and EHC problems along with a few others, not bashing either one just stating there are issues that could be fixed to give them better reputations and customer loyalty.