Bigdog had another lay-off today

[Baby Ray]

Well here goes baby I would love to have a chopper or k9 just can't afford it, I understand your in business to make money.

Its the same with my mortgage if your on time but your credit is bad you can't refinance for a lower rate.

But if you can't afford your mortgage and are late, oh ok we'll drop your rate so you can afford it.

What about the rest of us, not to be a whinny baby but if I could cut my interest rate in half It would give me money to buy other American made products. and the mortgage company would still be making money.

Unions where put in place for the worker, but now its out of control some people would do the job of a union worker for a third of what they make. and the cost of living every where isn't the same but should be, like all the states should have the same laws,instead of all the bullshit that goes on.

I would hate to see BDM go under before i get a chance to afford one, we the people need to take charge not our government i just am not smart enough to come up with the answers, but some one is. there is my worthless :zz2cents:

 

[jimizee028]

in all honesty i run a buisness right now,of course much smaller in comparison to that of big dog and we like the rest of the world are slow and just gettin by.....i dont care what kind of advertising i would do,or if i diversify my product,or spend more money in hopes of bringin in more jobs to do,people just aint spendin the money they were used to spending,IMO people have changed the way they think there is an endless supply of money to spend and or borrow,my personal opinion with this goin on at this time and the markets the way they are and the trends of motorcycles,i dont think realistically this market for 30 to 40 thousand dollar motorcycles will be explosive as it once was , i think this trend is over and we are in the beginning of something new to come...what it is i have no idea,but it aint spending what we no longer have and puttin it all on credit..........the banks made it easy for anyone,and i mean anyone to get credit to buy anything and now they aint givin us shit but a hard way to go and higher interest rates....me and everyone i talk to around here in small buisness is just waiting it out..........just like the bigger guys i guess

 

[SKOOTER58]

It cost so much that if you get over $3K off from your dealer then they are no longer able to throw in a $20 t-shirt supposedly.

Just get out your J&P / Dennis Kirk or Drag Specialty catalog and start adding up everything it would take to build you a nice Pro Street or Chopper style bike. It's crazy. None of this shit is worth what their asking. $1200 for a frame, $4000 for wheels, $7000 for a engine, & $500 for tires and so on. It's insane. It's like buying a whole bottle of asprin at Walmart for 5 bucks but when you are givin one asprin by a nurse prescribed by a doctor it cost you 50 dollars. If Ford , Chevy, Toyota or Honda were building these motorcycles they would cost $10,000 ito $15,000 nstead of $40,000 to $50,000 and you would be able to ride it farther than a few thousand miles before it breaks down. Oh wait, Honda already does this.

 

[BadBoy]

BDM future ???

If BDM does fall....How will this effect future parts, accessories, warranty work, and overall values with used BD motorcycles???

 

[K9Anniv]

How many Big Dogs are out there? Maybe they should offer a service line of upgrade changes (electronics, carb rebuilds, paint changes, engine repolishing/refurbishing/conversion kits - 107 to 117, etc) for existing Big Dogs?

A "Performance Center", if you will, for existing BDM customers and owners.

BDM could partner with a transport company like Federal (who's hurting for business too!) to offer inexpensive shipping to/from the Big Dog factory, with a 2-week turnaround on your bike.

At least they've got a captive market in doing that. People who've wanted a new 'Dog (because they're tired of their existing one for whatever reason) but can't afford one MIGHT be interested in spending a lot less money to refurbish, upgrade and repaint the 'Dog they've already got sitting in their garage.

Maybe even expand this line to include upgrades on American Ironhorse bikes (a now defunct company)...shouldn't be too big of a stretch for them, I wouldn't think. Why not capitalize on what's already out there!

I'm just brain-storming to try to keep our favorite bike company afloat and some good folks (schedulers, assemblers, polishers, engine guys, painters, etc) employed in Wichita!

 

[bdmridgeback]

If BDM does fall....How will this effect future parts, accessories, warranty work, and overall values with used BD motorcycles???

Look at American Ironhorse...

It is taking my friend 8 weeks to get a raw tank from them, and NO service anymore.

...and they have not officially folded up completely.

 

[bobby bigdog]

That sucks ass for BDM and the working guy that has a job there. I hope that things turn around soon for everbody.

 

[Trainguy]

WTF

As if I`m not depressed enough already. I`m on vacation, it`s been raining for a fuckin week, and now I read this thread about BDM. That`s it, gunna cut my wrist with this keyboard.:bang: :bang: :bang:

 

[SKOOTER58]

It sucks. It all does. I feel the parts industry as a whole needs to bring down the prices. As I said earlier, there isn't that much in this shit to justify the prices they charge. You can't make me believe that a chrome bored and boosted S&S Super G is worth $800 bucks when I can buy a polished aluminum Edelbrock Performer intake manifold with a chrome plated Thunder 600 cfm 4 barrel carb bolted to it for $30 dollars less than the one S&S carb. I bet that Super G carb has less than a hundred bucks in it. They are shooting themselfs in the foot.

 

[Finn]

It's like I always say about starters. You can buy a plain jane black small block chevy starter for $15-25 but a starter for a bike is a couple of hundred? WTF

 

[elguapo]

I was seriously looking at a new K9. Now I don't know. I really don't want to own a bike with no service.

 

[Eric]

well I see all sides of bussiness, my customers are only spending what thay have to,,not what thay need to, it will cost more in the long run if you dont maintain, stuff, only repair it when it brakes, but I also understand if you dont have the cash flow you cant fix it, this downed economy has affected my buissness too,

 

[SKOOTER58]

It's funny that I've been harping on here about parts prices being so high that it makes the builders cost unreal. I was using S&S as an example. Then I get this e-mail from S&S a few minutes ago. Maybe this is a sign that they are starting to see the light. Read below.

S&S Cycle
Press Release

S&S Cycle Announces Price Reductions

Viola, WI (July 2, 2009) S&S Cycle announces a reduction in price for two of their premium products, the S&S high performance clutch, and the S&S single bore tuned induction kits.

“We know these are both excellent products, and that they are superior to just about anything on the market. We believe this price reduction will allow more customers to see just how good they really are.” Said Director of Business Development and Sales, Michael Scaletta. “S&S Cycle has always been known for big, powerful engines, but people just don’t think of us for clutches . . .Yet.”

The S&S high performance clutch features 10 steel plates and 11 friction plates to increase the number of friction surfaces available. The S&S clutch comes with a spring set that allows the clutch to handle up to 140 horsepower, with clutch lever pull that is equivalent to stock. Stronger springs are available for applications up to 200 horsepower. The S&S clutch is available for 1991-’06 big twins, except 2006 Dyna® models. The suggested retail price for these clutches has been reduced by a whopping $200.00. MSRP for the mechanically actuated versions was $899.95, but they are now priced at $699.95. The hydraulically actuated versions were $949.95 MSRP, and are now $749.95.S&S single bore tuned induction kits have also been reduced in price so that MSRP on a complete system is under $500.00. Some applications are as low as $385.00.

In addition, ordering has been simplified with a single part number. Customers simply specify model and year of the motorcycle, the preferred finish of the intake runners, and the desired color of the filters. Not only does the aggressive styling of the tuned induction kits look great, the tuned induction improves performance across the rpm range, with a real boost in the midrange.

Director of Product management Charlie Hadayia Jr. had this to say “The classic teardrop air cleaner has been and image associated with S&S Cycle since 1975, but the S&S tuned induction kits look so good and perform so well, that they may become another classic S&S image in time. We’re sure that the new lower price for the S&S tuned runner and the S&S clutch will encourage customers to give them a try!”



For more information contact:

S&S Cycle Inc.

14025 County Hwy G

Viola, WI 54664

S&S Cycle - Performance Parts for American V-Twins

 

[browning]

times are tough all the way around i'm custom paint higher end bass boats the boats i paint are 63k a boat.the really expensive one are still selling but the basemodel types are dead in the water so to speak the factory went from 450 people to 25 they are just staying open no profit what soever.hoping we can ride it out.glastron ranger and several other boat companys have went under this year:down:

 

[BigMex]

Just bought new 09 k9. Its sad news to hear. I hope they make it. There are some good ideas here that might help them make it. The whole industry needs to listen to what people want and need Lower prices.

 

[bigdog04]

With BDM being so proprietary to there product line I'm sure this is a contributing factor. With these bikes being so expensive there always room for more "customizing" or "personalizing". I'm positive when a previous owner of a BDM wants to trade up to another BDM bike that this comes to mind. More bikes might be sold if in this economic crunch if one was to shop the "big books". I know that there is no way I'll be purchasing another because of this. Don't get me wrong I do love my 04' Chopper but I just can't stand the thought of accessorizing it with BDM parts being limited so to speak. Case in point; my brother just redone an 82' wide glide shovel and has no where the money involved in mine and looks just as good. A real head turner. And, he got most of his parts from the dreaded EBAY.:angry:
I do not want to see BDM in trouble. I'm just venting and this is mt 2 cents worth. Good day.

 

[barhopper]

If BDM is around 50 years, you will see more stuff in the aftermarket books cause more bikes will be on the road. When Harley was 15 years old, there was not a aftermarket parts book either. It takes time.

 

[Exotic]

I love them, my K9 is my 3rd and I would buy a new one today if I was in the market. I love my K9 and don't have a reason to change.

If you buy one and BDM folds it will be worth more down the road IMO. Where else can you get a chopper with a 300 rear that is not built in a basement. That is exactly why they will survive, perhaps smaller and leaner, but they will be there.

 

[chacha]

Sad but this is happening across the board. Even here in the DC area where the economy never reflects reality, the defense companies are cutting way back -- the Government may be giving money away, but they ain't spending it on contracts. They're even cutting back on existing contracts -- my Wife is out of work next week. Her company has been sending people out the back door for six weeks...word round is others are too and the experienced (more costly) folks are the first to go to protect the company.

Talking to friends last week with J&P...accounting is not happy, expect lay-offs there, the Florida Store may go seasonal, and maybe some more realistic prices in their catalog pages...

Sounds like S&S got a Clue....good to see.

Sorry times are bad at BDM, but they are far from alone in this -- I don't expect it to settle before October.

 

[BadBoy]

So what will this do to parts, service, warranty's, and bike values if they fold???