| Author | Message | ||
     Bettybuell |
Who was around when AMF owned Harley? They were complete junk because all AMF cared about was $$$. Then management bought the brand and saved it. I always thought HD was a company run by bikers but now, with the elimination of Buell to maximize profits I understand the company is just like most, run by Bean Counters. I should have bought a Ducati!!! I LOVE my 1125r but am so pissed at HD...I hope they go the way of the Detroit big 3, they would deserve it. | ||
| Cyclone00 |
Yeah, good point, I feel your pain, What I dont understand is. Your HD, own Buell and you want them to do well. Then why is it that they're is far less advertising and even lesser Buell's in the showroom. Maybe it not the same where you are, but in New England HD dealerships that carry Buells have shrank in numbers over thet years. Come to think of it, I cant think of one in the state of MA. The dealership I bought my Cyclone back in 01 is now just a HD dealer. They cant even get Buell parts directly, even before Buells end. When riding my 9yr old Cyclone I often get asked "hey what is that?". They dont know what a Buell is, or have never seen one. Then they tell me how cool it looks. The fact is that Buell has always been black sheep of the organization. That goes for service as well. That is at least for me in my area. I could write a book on my miserable experiences Ive had with HD dealerships. It took a while but lucky Ive found a Buell/HD dealership in NH that has been great to me. Buell has never given a fair shot, its a wonder to me they've done as well as they have. If these investors can find a way of helping out Erik in getting this thing back up and running I truely hope they break away from the murdership. They arnt doing him any favors. People may read this and think Im really bitter twards HD. The fact is this frustration had built up over time. HD's anouncement last week was just some gasoline to the fire. Sorry man, didnt mean to highjack your thread but I just had to vent.  | ||
| Steve_mackay |
Wishing a company out of business will not make the CEO and Board of Director's decision to close Buell any more palatable. Like it or not, all that would do is kill another American icon that employs thousands. And helps feed my local economy. While I don't particularly agree, nor like the fact that HD is closing Buell. I'm not going to wish ill will on another motorcycle company. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
While I don't particularly agree, nor like the fact that HD is closing Buell. I'm not going to wish ill will on another motorcycle company. I agree! I think there are lots of good people working for Harley, just not in their upper management! | ||
| Jstfrfun |
HD and Buell don't and didn't fit together, different genre, different style. Buell dosen't even have a packederm in it's model line-up! If I'm not too far off base, I think Eric wound up with HD because he used the sportster based power-plant, and made it work better than HD could. | ||
| Sifo |
HD and Buell don't and didn't fit together,... So why is it that other manufactures manage to deal in cruisers and sport bikes and everything in between. Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda, and Triumph all seem to be able to market multiple genres of bikes. HD failed where others do quite well. I don't think that speaks well of HD. | ||
| Aldaytona |
I was around when AMF owned Harley-Davidson and the notion that Harleys were complete junk is the second biggest lie behind I won't _ _ _ in your mouth. Who ran Harley Davidson when AMF sold it? The same guys who ran it during AMF. How did the NEW Harley Davidson come up with the new and improved EVO engine just after they bought out AMF? D'oh. The killing off of the Buell brand by Harley Davidson is a far worse thing that AMF ever did when it owned the company. BTW: I feel the same way about the 1125 Rotax series as real Harley Davidson guys feel about the V Rod. | ||
| Teddagreek |
Like it or not, all that would do is kill another American icon that employs thousands. If you read all the articles about Harley and India it looks like outsourcing is on the horizon... Is it me or do these guys going down the same road as the auto industry... | ||
| Uncleron |
It seems that current HD management is the same as the management of most large American corporations. They do not give a damn about employees or customers, they just want to suck as much money out for themselves as they can get away with. I would not be the least bit surprised to see Wandell going to DC looking for a taxpayer handout. Every other major motorcycle manufacturer manages to sell and support a variety of bikes to suit the different needs of riders. Why is it that HD is incapable of selling and supporting anything other than chrome encrusted big twins? Having bikes in a variety of market segments helps protect a company when demand in any one particular segment slows; this should be common sense, but that seems to be in short supply at HD headquarters. | ||
| Daveswan |
In 1969, American Machinery and Foundry (AMF) bought the company, slashed the workforce, failed to instill proper quality control resulting in lower quality of bikes. They were famous for buying new companies in unfamiliar markets and not reinvesting in their core companies letting them fall apart. The Shovelhead was produced for a long time while the competitors were innovating. It was looked upon as a relic a long time before it was replaced. The oil management systems, reliability, and general performance were out of date. The Evolution engine was begun under AMFs watch. In in response to the changing environment - the EPA, speeds were up, travel distance is greater so they shot for reliability, oil tightness, and ability to be run hard for tens of thousands of miles. In 1977, after the manager of engine design, Jerry Long asked engineer Hank Hubbard to design a new engine. They could not afford to do a complete engine. They were on a budget and tasked to design it from the crank up - cylinders, heads, intake - designs were done by 1980. In 1981, AMF sold the company to a group of investors led by president Vaughn Beals. Evo cam out in 84, but they were pushing for 83. They kept the shovelead just in case the Evo failed. Some people were actually mad because it was too good, too tight and reliable. Times were tough for them, money and lack of leadership was killing them and they pulled it off. That EVO was a tipping point. It's amazing what the people who do the work can do if they're given the chance to do it - thoughtful leadership rather than some venture money grab without forethought. | ||
| Teddagreek |
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| Daveswan |
those are beautiful! I guess given the compelling evidence presented, a broken watch can still be right at least once a day! |
