Layoff
- Thread starter Sinthroid
- Start date
Nukeranger
Nukeranger
I keep imagining a new basic K-9 priced at 20K where I can build my accessory wish list for Birthdays, Xmas, etc. I could easily sell this to my better half for my next birthday. Then I wake up and realize that the local Big Dog Dealer has two 2007 choppers for between 24 and 27K. Alas, this won't happen. Maybe, I can build my own slowly part by part!
Dozer1
Active Member
Damn! I've been laid off a couple of times this past year myself (construction), so I know what it feels like to be outa work. SUCKS!!! Hopefully, though, Big Dog can make it through this. Hate to think of them actually having to fold! Best damn bike I've ever owned, and I'll not even begin to get into the customer service side of it! SUCKS! SUCKS! SUCKS!
txchopperguy
Well-Known Member
A bobber might be cool though, and as they are somewhat stripped down, a lower price might be acceptable. I too would never want to "cheapen" the brand, and I think Sheldon feels that way as well.
Yeah, and with a small bobber (huge market for them now) you can get away with a smaller motor and a 5 spd tranny which would bring the price down. As well as smaller tires/wheels, chain drive too.
txchopperguy
Well-Known Member
You know Ray, I thought about that as well, but I didnt know if that would screw up the production platform they have by working with dramatically different components.
They do tend to use the same engine and tranny combo for everything...so I dont know if making a switch on one model would be cost effective or not...unless they sold enough of them.
Cetainly food for thought though. I would hope in this market the vendors would relish an opportunity to move more inventory...but you just never know.
I would bet though, that many owners would be tempted to pick up a sweet little bobber as a second bike, especially if the price were right.
They do tend to use the same engine and tranny combo for everything...so I dont know if making a switch on one model would be cost effective or not...unless they sold enough of them.
Cetainly food for thought though. I would hope in this market the vendors would relish an opportunity to move more inventory...but you just never know.
I would bet though, that many owners would be tempted to pick up a sweet little bobber as a second bike, especially if the price were right.
K9Anniv
Well-Known Member
True, but the problem with that is you lose all your good people you've trained because they're going somewhere else now...they have to live, and they won't be too trusting of Big Dog when/if they do get called to "come back".
Sheldon will no doubt find all the people he needs to ramp back up, but look for learning curves to take their toll on customer service, quality control, etc.
But hey... I'm in favor of whatever it takes to keep BDM going, for sure!!!
Last edited:
K9Anniv
Well-Known Member
Why don't they expand their Parts & Accessory Dept. to include options and kits for more mods to handlebars, seats, headlights, engine upgrades, etc? Look at Harley's 3" thick P&A catalog!
P&A plus clothing lines are Harley's bread & gravy, even when bike sales are down!
Last edited:
KnotSo is absolutely correct. This is not a discount manufacturer at all. They build very well equipped, high quality mass customs. I think if they compromise that then they have already quit.
Although expensive how much would it cost to assemble one of these bikes from the high quality parts they use? In other words they are a pretty good value. It's not a business model problem necessarily, but it is the $hittiest economy since the 30s.
An earlier poster brought up financing. This cuts two ways: 1 the dealers cannot finance floor plan, which means no inventory of bikes or parts; 2 potential buyers can't get a loan so no sales. I for one don't have 40k so I need to finance (lucky those of you who don't). However, as much I would like to get another and some folks their first, but with job prospects so crappy how do you expect folks to take on a huge loan when they may need to feed their families.
I think they are smart to cut production to the bare minimum until the consumer returns if they have the wherewithal to do so.
just wondering,, do you think we wont be able to get parts, kind of like AIH,, hope not.. I for one dont want to down the company,, hope thay do well.. as my bussiness is suffering also,, try to keep a positive thought..these are hard times,, good luck bdm....:2thumbs: oh I tried to send the survey gift card back the bdm, not much help here, bdm said wow & thanks thay would get it worked out thay never responded,, I know it wasnt much but every little bit helps.. I never used mine
:2thumbs: oh I tried to send the survey gift card back the bdm, not much help here, bdm said wow & thanks thay would get it worked out thay never responded,, I know it wasnt much but every little bit helps.. I never used mine
slug
New Member
Ok, so i have been lurking on this forum for awhile. I thank all you guys who add input. Recently I used alot of the information i have found on this forum to decide on , and track down a 05 Mastiff with about 3k miles. With everything necessary, and from what i can tell I got a pretty sweet deal on it.
Now this news has got me shook-up because seriously... How will this effect my ability to get parts? I dont see S&S being able to sell direct.
I mean , after all my research I decided to go big dog on my first custom.
This news is pretty disturbing to me.
maybe some of the guys on here that work the floors ,or wrench on these,? If you have any thoughts that would be great.
Until now I have only rode what i can afford to keep on the road. A mixture of old triumphs and hondas ect. So after busting ass a few years i got to the point I can afford to drop a down payment that will allow me to fianance the rest on something I want to ride. "thank god for the 760 credit score" So im trying real hard not to f*ck this up on buying something that i cant get a part for, or is worth 4k less by the time i get it home and out of the trailer. ?
Basically if this company were to shut down , how would the "ripple effect" get back to the bike owner?
Now this news has got me shook-up because seriously... How will this effect my ability to get parts? I dont see S&S being able to sell direct.
I mean , after all my research I decided to go big dog on my first custom.
This news is pretty disturbing to me.
maybe some of the guys on here that work the floors ,or wrench on these,? If you have any thoughts that would be great.
Until now I have only rode what i can afford to keep on the road. A mixture of old triumphs and hondas ect. So after busting ass a few years i got to the point I can afford to drop a down payment that will allow me to fianance the rest on something I want to ride. "thank god for the 760 credit score" So im trying real hard not to f*ck this up on buying something that i cant get a part for, or is worth 4k less by the time i get it home and out of the trailer. ?
Basically if this company were to shut down , how would the "ripple effect" get back to the bike owner?
BDA-Parts
Member
$413.95 for 05-up with carb
BDA-Parts
Member
If BDM folded, it will be considerably harder to find parts for than American Ironhorse. There's not much I can't get for an AIH. They use commonly used parts found on certain year Harleys and many other customs. Plenty of options out there for most of their parts. However, BDM has way too many proprietary parts that you can't just buy out of a catalog. They MUST be bought from BDM.just wondering,, do you think we wont be able to get parts, kind of like AIH,, hope not.. I for one dont want to down the company,, hope thay do well.. as my bussiness is suffering also,, try to keep a positive thought..these are hard times,, good luck bdm....
txchopperguy
Well-Known Member
BDM has a licensing agreement with its parts suppliers..ie S&S and Baker (which is really the big ones...) that says only they (BDM) can sell for retail the parts for what is on their bikes. If BDM ceased to exist , AND I DO NOT THINK THEY WILL, NOR DO I WANT THIS TO HAPPEN, those licensing agreements would also cease to exist, and I am betting the parts would then become available from the original source. Even now Baker will rebuild your BDM/BAKER tranny for you, if you send it to them.
EHC's? if ya gotta replace that, you want to go with the wire plus anyway. What else would you need that you can't outsource...and therefore possibly upgrade at the same time? Even if you wrecked the bike, just consider it an opportunity to make it a "true custom" as opposed to a "production custom".
Remember guys...the owner of BDM comes from a family that understands tough times...his grandfather founded a company over 100 years ago (Coleman Outdoors), that is not only still up and running, but THRIVING today.
Yeah anything can happen...but if anybody can weather this storm, I am betting on Big Dog!
EHC's? if ya gotta replace that, you want to go with the wire plus anyway. What else would you need that you can't outsource...and therefore possibly upgrade at the same time? Even if you wrecked the bike, just consider it an opportunity to make it a "true custom" as opposed to a "production custom".
Remember guys...the owner of BDM comes from a family that understands tough times...his grandfather founded a company over 100 years ago (Coleman Outdoors), that is not only still up and running, but THRIVING today.
Yeah anything can happen...but if anybody can weather this storm, I am betting on Big Dog!
myanoch
Active Member
We are getting like the stock market back when everyone gets scared and sells ruining good companys
When I bought mine they were having lay offs at BDM
I bought it anyway. I sold my Harley to get a better bike .BD is a great bike and the ecomony is not going to take that away from it.
Hell harley stock is going up for the last few months
Nobody is worried who buys a Harley
Lets think positive and maybe more guys looking to find a better grade of bike will look at this web page and at BDM and buy one
That gets BDM workers back were they need to be making Bigdogs
But not if everyone is spooking them
My 2 cents
When I bought mine they were having lay offs at BDM
I bought it anyway. I sold my Harley to get a better bike .BD is a great bike and the ecomony is not going to take that away from it.
Hell harley stock is going up for the last few months
Nobody is worried who buys a Harley
Lets think positive and maybe more guys looking to find a better grade of bike will look at this web page and at BDM and buy one
That gets BDM workers back were they need to be making Bigdogs
But not if everyone is spooking them
My 2 cents