Big Dog might be gone
- Thread starter Mikeo
- Start date
BDMdetroit
New Member
Jochen,
We have this '08 Pitbull in stock right now for $18,495. It's a spotless bike with only 4300 miles. It has the "Tribal" grips, pegs, and fork caps. It also has the V & H reverse radius pipes. Check it out here:
Big Dog Motorcycles 2008 Pitbull
You can call me at (734) 398-5454 or PM me.
Thanks,
Jeff Scott
Big Dog M/C Detroit
chomper
Member
As much as that autometer speedo was a pain in the ass or the starter gave me fits my pitbull has always been faithful to me and thus I to it. Far be it for me to give a John Belushi 1942 pep talk but we didnt give up when the Germans bomber Pearl Harbor nor will I give up on my Dog or her family when times get tough...LONG LIVE THE DOG !!!!!!!!
PurpleDog
Well-Known Member
OrangeSkullz
Active Member
Animal House my friend........hmmm,
PurpleDog
Well-Known Member
, ya man,
K9Anniv
Well-Known Member
"Don't stop him...he's on a roll.." Boone to Otter :lol:What? Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Animal House!!!!!!!!!!!!!
K9Anniv
Well-Known Member
On Cyril Huze blog this morning...
Fast Motorcycle Industry News at Cyril Huze Blog ? Custom Motorcycle News
Fast Motorcycle Industry News at Cyril Huze Blog ? Custom Motorcycle News
LamboV12
Active Member
With respect to resale value bikes - remember they are not “investments”. As an owner of a Ferrari and a Lamborghini we often have this debate on our forums. You buy it to drive it and enjoy it, not as a portfolio asset.
With respect to BDM – I’ve had a lot of bikes and I’m on my 2nd Dog – I love this bike. It looks great, rides great and is more reliable than my Road King. In fairness, I have to say that I stripped it down and removed all the proprietary components and now it is a generic chopper.
I think it’s important to acknowledge that he quality of these bikes is top notch and is directly attributable to the guys in the factory… From assembly to paint -it’s a first class operation. BDM has been named “Bike of the Year” by V Twin magazine and has been the recipient of other prestigious awards that other manufacturers would envy.
However, the pitfall - and possible demise of BDM, is not the bikes, but rather the front office – how the company is managed. I say this with experience, as I am a CEO of a multi national company. Rule 1 is protect the interests of the shareholders. Rule 2 is listen to your customers.
BDM failed to listen. Everyone knows about EHC, side covers and speedo. Management selected these components, recognized their failures and refused to react. Their solution was to replace a failed part with another failed part over and over again. Millions were wasted in unnecessary expenditures (warranty, recall and litigation) not to mention the loss of customer good will. I think it was in 05 when these components became problematic and, if in fact they go to generic components as proposed in the 2011 chopper, it took 6 years to acknowledge and remedy the problem – totally unacceptable for a company this small. It could have been done is 6 months.
The problems with management are to numerous to elaborate here. But I will mention there is an elephant in the room. It is very common practice for a city or county to give tax breaks to encourage a business into their municipality. The new BDM factory was given, I believe, a 4 year exemption that was renewed for an additional 4 year term. The local paper reported that this will be the last extension and it will not be renewed. This will significantly increase the fixed operating cost of the company.
I agree with what BDM is doing now – build per order on a limited scale to reduce their daily operating cost and inventory liabilities. However, the problem of a misguided management team and a monster facility still plague them.
I think Dewey needs to clean house from the ground up with his management team and either dump the building or find a co-use for it. Share the facility with another industry, such as aviation, or create a new company manufacturing customs bike parts to keep employees working and revenue coming in through the door – a lot of things you could do, if you’re smart.
Finally, (if you’re still reading and the Mod hasn’t banned this) don’t worry about your bikes regardless of what happens to BDM. Look at AIH, even I’m surprised on how much their values are holding.
Worst case scenario you may need a proprietary down the road – so what? This would be an opportunity to do a generic conversion and actually make an improvement to your bike. Don’t forget – you ride a Custom
90 degrees, blue sky, I’m riding.
With respect to BDM – I’ve had a lot of bikes and I’m on my 2nd Dog – I love this bike. It looks great, rides great and is more reliable than my Road King. In fairness, I have to say that I stripped it down and removed all the proprietary components and now it is a generic chopper.
I think it’s important to acknowledge that he quality of these bikes is top notch and is directly attributable to the guys in the factory… From assembly to paint -it’s a first class operation. BDM has been named “Bike of the Year” by V Twin magazine and has been the recipient of other prestigious awards that other manufacturers would envy.
However, the pitfall - and possible demise of BDM, is not the bikes, but rather the front office – how the company is managed. I say this with experience, as I am a CEO of a multi national company. Rule 1 is protect the interests of the shareholders. Rule 2 is listen to your customers.
BDM failed to listen. Everyone knows about EHC, side covers and speedo. Management selected these components, recognized their failures and refused to react. Their solution was to replace a failed part with another failed part over and over again. Millions were wasted in unnecessary expenditures (warranty, recall and litigation) not to mention the loss of customer good will. I think it was in 05 when these components became problematic and, if in fact they go to generic components as proposed in the 2011 chopper, it took 6 years to acknowledge and remedy the problem – totally unacceptable for a company this small. It could have been done is 6 months.
The problems with management are to numerous to elaborate here. But I will mention there is an elephant in the room. It is very common practice for a city or county to give tax breaks to encourage a business into their municipality. The new BDM factory was given, I believe, a 4 year exemption that was renewed for an additional 4 year term. The local paper reported that this will be the last extension and it will not be renewed. This will significantly increase the fixed operating cost of the company.
I agree with what BDM is doing now – build per order on a limited scale to reduce their daily operating cost and inventory liabilities. However, the problem of a misguided management team and a monster facility still plague them.
I think Dewey needs to clean house from the ground up with his management team and either dump the building or find a co-use for it. Share the facility with another industry, such as aviation, or create a new company manufacturing customs bike parts to keep employees working and revenue coming in through the door – a lot of things you could do, if you’re smart.
Finally, (if you’re still reading and the Mod hasn’t banned this) don’t worry about your bikes regardless of what happens to BDM. Look at AIH, even I’m surprised on how much their values are holding.
Worst case scenario you may need a proprietary down the road – so what? This would be an opportunity to do a generic conversion and actually make an improvement to your bike. Don’t forget – you ride a Custom
90 degrees, blue sky, I’m riding.
K9Anniv
Well-Known Member
Wow...well said!
PaulHart
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the post. Good insight here. I was wondering about the big facility myself. That's a lot of building for a build to order operation. I didn't know of the tax breaks. As far a resale goes I don't think it's any worse than it's ever been. I was on DreamMachinesofTexas.com last night and the Iron Horse Bikes resale is holding it's own with comparable Big Dogs even though Iron Horse has been out of business for some time.
Fibersnake
Banjo Playing PsychoBilly
Very well said Lambo.
armad
Active Member
Lambo The forum bullies could be gathering to squash! Very good assesment of the BDM situation. I agree 100%. I am keeping my Mutt. Have had it for a short time and am happy with just about all aspects of the bike. Like you said, it is a custom bike and looks and rides great.
Rossolo83
Member
Wish it was 90 degrees with blue sky here in KS. Agree with Lambo as well, I bought my redhead 08 pitbull for keeps. My last bike I had for 5 years and I am planning on having this one for at least 10 so resale is not a concern for me. BD's are a masterpeice of a bike and we are a breed of riders that will always be around, factory or no factory.
I try not to buy anything I plan on selling.
I rode my last bike for 15 years and could stand the idea of being without it.
I practicaly gave it to my sister in law just so it could live in my garage.
It owes me nothing, I enjoyed every dollars worth.
I plan to do the same with my big dog!
I restore mopars for a living, I have seen customers make money on cars we built and many lose money on cars we built.
I don't get the investment people, it is too much of a gamble.
Build or buy what you want and enjoy it. If some day you need to sell,it is what it is.
I hope big dog makes it as I am impressed with the build quality and fit and finish.
You can see the pride in it.
Sorry for typos I'm replying on my phone.
I rode my last bike for 15 years and could stand the idea of being without it.
I practicaly gave it to my sister in law just so it could live in my garage.
It owes me nothing, I enjoyed every dollars worth.
I plan to do the same with my big dog!
I restore mopars for a living, I have seen customers make money on cars we built and many lose money on cars we built.
I don't get the investment people, it is too much of a gamble.
Build or buy what you want and enjoy it. If some day you need to sell,it is what it is.
I hope big dog makes it as I am impressed with the build quality and fit and finish.
You can see the pride in it.
Sorry for typos I'm replying on my phone.