| Author | Message | ||
     Psychobueller |
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/10/whats-go ing-to-happen-to-erik.html What does this mean? | ||
| Mtch |
It's not actually sales that are Harley's biggest problem -- although they can't help -- it's the troubled finance wing. Harley's practice of giving sub-prime motorcycle loans to unsuitable candidates has bit the company in its proverbial ass, forcing Harley to borrow $1 billion in operating capitol at 15%. That's only enough money to see it through to the end of the year. So far this year, revenue at Harley is only down 17 percent, yet net income has fallen 71.4 percent. well there you go. Buell dies because of management incompetence | ||
| Rocketsprink |
My God. You know how many times I've said that here on this site, only to be told by some that it's the "workers" fault? It's corporate greed. Nothing more. Nothing less. If Buell was such a small part in the overall scheme of H-D, I can't imagine killing them off is saving H-D one frickin' dime. Seems to me they got themselves into it, but are killing others off to try and save face. I am good friends with Paul, and I know this is just killing him. But seeing H-D is his employer, what else can he say? | ||
| Andymnelson |
"Asked how Harley intends to replace the customers that will now be lost to Buell's competitors and how Harley intends to expand its appeal to post Boomer generations, Paul is insistent that Harley's current range already has the ability to appeal to that audience, saying, "Keep in mind, in the U.S., H-D holds the number two share position overall (all size bikes) among young adults 35 and younger and we are the share leader in heavyweight motorcycles among this group, so we know our motorcycles appeal to young adults." Futher proof that they never understood us. I had interest in HD products...but never even a thought of buying one before I turn 50. | ||
| Court |
>>>>I am good friends with Paul, and I know this is just killing him. But seeing H-D is his employer, what else can he say? I agree. Paul's a smart guy, an honest guy and a good person. I read some of this stuff with the same stock I put in the silly phone message they put on the line when you call the factory of the stuff the PR folks stationed in the lobby will tell you. I think the saying is . .. "consider the source". I've been getting lots of "Hey Court . . . after 21 years Harley "released" some of us in engineering and I may want you to write a reference for me" letters. If I had to choose to be working for Harley or Buell yesterday . . . I'd have taken Buell.  | ||
| Cataract2 |
Hey HD, I'm that under 35 crowd you want. What do you have to attract me with NOW? HUH? My money is going else where. Not to YOU!!!! | ||
| Tankhead |
Here is what I posted on hellforleather. Well, well, well. What a closed minded thought process. Closing a company that had a new model to be released that could have doubled the market share of said company, to literally saying (with blinders on) that your HD products already have the ability to attract young buyers. Really? Good luck with that business plan. Good Luck with continuing to finance your $180000.00 loungers to young men that won't have the expendable income in this economy. Wow. Hope it hurts real bad when you will eventually lay off more American workers because of your close minded ways. | ||
| Acgwolfe |
I for one am done with HD the only thing that attracted me to them was my Buell, that is the most special motorcycle I have ever owned and like one of the family. For the most part HD dealers are rude and seem to have an over inflated opinion of themselves, their products and service. While Buellers are exceptional and are what Harley used to be before they became a corporate sellout and became all about the numbers instead of the customer. I'm very saddened and at the same time excited about the future, I hope that Buell will find a way to overcome without the restraints of MoCo, what a day that would be. | ||
| Rainman |
In teaching MSF and RE courses, I've seen lots of 25 to 37 guys who take the class after buying Nightsters and Cross Bones and Fat Bobs and Street Glides. Still, most of the Buellers I know are 21 to 56 and most of the Harley guys are 35-70. I used to be a Harley guy. Fell in love with Buell during Riders Edge instructor training. I will own another Buell-designed product, whatever it says on the tank. | ||
| Teddagreek |
A new bike might be badged as a HD....  what's next, Let the smoke clear and re-badge the XB's... | ||
| Rainman |
XB is what the Sportster should have morphed into in all those years. Best Sporty ever.... | ||
| Swordsman |
For the under 35 crowd that are in need of an improved self-image, H-D may have some appeal, but I'm thinking only in... er... the "redneck" demographic? (Hell, I'm in GA, I can use the term!). But that statement was by and large wishful thinking. I seriously doubt most guys under 35 have any desire to be lumped into the leather-clad, beer-gut-sportin' handlebar-mustache crowd. ~SM | ||
| Blake |
I still don't get it. How is killing Buell saving them anything? IDIOTS!!! Sounds like an excuse to execute a personal agenda to me. | ||
| Midknyte |
Sounds like an excuse to execute a personal agenda to me. I have to wonder if there's not some animosity at HD for Buell using the Rotax engine... | ||
| Slaughter |
Has to be a hard time for Paul James right now in trying to put a smiley face on all this - knowing that he IS a racer and WAS before coming to Harley. Yeah, they can kid themselves about "racing" the BFD1200S by segregating it among its own kind but that'll last as long as the 883 series. | ||
| Whatever |
Paul is a good guy... don't bash him for doing his job... if I were in his shoes I would do the same...  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Somebody oughta campaign an XR1200 in daytona sportbike with the big ol bar and shield... and publicly shame HD. | ||
| Court |
>>>>Paul is a good guy... don't bash him for doing his job... Paul is a class act and a top notch person. | ||
| Indy_bueller |
Paul is a class act and a top notch person Yes he is! | ||
| Oldog |
Somebody oughta campaign an XR1200 in daytona sportbike with the big ol bar and shield... and publicly shame HD.  } | ||
| Dalefranks |
"Asked how Harley intends to replace the customers that will now be lost to Buell's competitors and how Harley intends to expand its appeal to post Boomer generations, Paul is insistent that Harley's current range already has the ability to appeal to that audience, saying, "Keep in mind, in the U.S., H-D holds the number two share position overall (all size bikes) among young adults 35 and younger and we are the share leader in heavyweight motorcycles among this group, so we know our motorcycles appeal to young adults." Then why is HD's average rider age shooting up like a rocket? Are they now making factory trikes because their young, hip riders want them? Or because their average riders have hip problems? This sounds like whistling past the graveyard to me. HD has about 10 years left until the baby-boomers get too old to ride. They better come up with a plan before then, and it better be something different than the current plan, which is "Find more 52 year-olds looking to buy their first bike." | ||
| Ezblast |
I think HD has already publicly shamed themselves by shutting down a successful line of new and promising product in order to preserve the old weak line. How many renditions of the same bike is America going to buy new, when there are a world of baby-boomer who will soon enough be selling their HDs when too old to ride, and their prices will be a lot less than HDs new, and still it would be a HD, with a low enough price the majority will pick used over new easily. HD only new bikes are the Vrod and the Blast - lol - the rest of those designs have ancient history, and plenty of new and old versions stand side by side on the street. With no real innovation HD is slowly creating enough of the same to soon only sell bikes in boutique shops with parts & accessories, and maintenance and repair done in differing locations independently through licensed representatives. HD is slowly and shamefully unwilling to take the risk of any expansion and instead uses any excuse to preserve what they - the Board members - have. They are slowly bleeding their fatted cow to death and do not care who they take with it, as long as they are served - business - bah! EZ |
