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Twobuells
| Posted on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 - 11:01 pm: |
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I'd like to see the actual numbers. Sales were so bad in 2009 that percentages may be very misleading. Didn't Buell sell more bikes that Victory in 2008/2009? |
Cityxslicker
| Posted on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - 02:10 am: |
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Here is killer marketing " Lebanon represents a country that is renowned for its passionate people, the dramatic scenery and the wonderful climate." of all the time in the military Beirut was never a place that made the rounds of 'hey I wanna go there' list. |
Court
| Posted on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - 07:23 am: |
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I agree that percentage change is not a good measure. The big news is, however, not the nominal number but the change. If Victory had sold one more bike and HD one less it would have been news. Industry sales are way down. The story is that Victory had proffered either a good enough product or done a good enough job of marketing to buck that trend. It's an indication of knowing one's industry and responding. Harley is flailing like a beached whale. |
Needs_o2
| Posted on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - 11:28 am: |
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Cityxslicker, H-D just needs to find a place where the people haven't tasted their snakeoil yet! (Message edited by needs o2 on October 27, 2010) |
Scooter808484
| Posted on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - 12:54 pm: |
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96 Road King - 69.4 ft.lbs @ 3600 RPM http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/harley-davidson_1 340_electra_glide_road_king_1995.php '10 Road King - 93.7 ft.lbs @ 3500 RPM http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/harley-davidson_f lhr_road_king_2010.php Looks to me like the '10 has much more power, even with meeting new emissions standards. I was talking about MY specific '02 95 inch big twin. It makes about 95 rear wheel ft lb, but it has a mild cam with headwork in it. The '96 you quoted was an EVO, I can't remember the displacement at the time. The 93.7 of the '10 isn't so bad though, explains why I had to rip it to keep up with an acquaintance with an 96 inch dyna. That bike is sporting ~150 lb less weight as well, so I feel a little better. The best thing about that 96, is that you can turn it into a 103 or so with just top end rebuild. Still got that crappy crank bearing setup though. They went from a tapered Timken setup to a straight roller bearing which can allow lateral play to destroy rod ends, especially in modified format. To me, that's the thing about HD that no other mfg has to as large an extent: Huge aftermarket support. You can tinker and modify them (not just chrome, talking heads, cams, exhaust, etc) 1000s of different ways. Of course that can work against them in trying to sell new bikes as well. |
Xb984r
| Posted on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 - 08:24 pm: |
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Victory's sales increase could be the result of their $5000 off 2010 and older bikes |
S1wmike
| Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 12:12 pm: |
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>>>>but nothing in the Victory line up will match up to a Vrod My curiosity makes me want to ask your opinion as to why Victory sales are INCREASING and Harley-Davidson sales are DECREASING. Any ideas? This is just my opinion but I would start with HD having their heads up their collective asses for some time now and the "Field of Dreams" mentality of "If you build it, they will come." My statement was purely for the reasons I would buy a motorcycle and the performance of the Victory motorcycles do not meet my expectations. |
Swordsman
| Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 02:17 pm: |
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but nothing in the Victory line up will match up to a Vrod I would think that if power/performance was THE deciding factor in a purchase, the Vrod would be H-D's flagship seller, and it obviously isn't. While it would be sweet if Victory DID have a contender against the Vrod, I don't think it's necessary for them to succeed. I believe Harley's bad boy image is failing. Too many comical stereotypes of the typical Harley rider have taken hold, and people are beginning to distance themselves from the brand because of it. Just a theory. From the Victory marketing I've been seeing, Victory is saying to hell with image, we're here to ride. As a matter of fact, I'm looking at their 2010 model lineup book, and across the bottom in big red letters it says "BUILT TO BE RIDDEN", which strikes me as a jab at the H-D stereotype that trailers a bike everywhere. ~SM (Message edited by Swordsman on October 28, 2010) |
S1wmike
| Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 05:21 pm: |
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I would think that if power/performance was THE deciding factor in a purchase, the Vrod would be H-D's flagship seller, and it obviously isn't. While it would be sweet if Victory DID have a contender against the Vrod, I don't think it's necessary for them to succeed. My original post was a direct response to the picture of the Victory Hammer and the statement of how it stacks up against any and all HDs. I even stated that I liked the Vegas 8 ball but it was a cosmetic thing for the attraction. Nothing I had to do with sales and which company was better |
Sifo
| Posted on Thursday, October 28, 2010 - 06:36 pm: |
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I believe Harley's bad boy image is failing. A couple of years ago I was with a riding buddy heading someplace in his cage. At a stop light a couple of members of the Outlaws pulled up next to us. I damn near pissed my self laughing when he said to me "when did members of biker gangs start riding baggers". |
Swampy
| Posted on Friday, October 29, 2010 - 06:13 pm: |
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The "bad boy" costumes are just hysterical at times. Years ago, when I couldn't come up with a good enough excuse not to go on a benefit poker run put on by the owner of a company I am trying to keep in good graces with, there was a woman wandering around with one of those fake tattoo sleeves. It was just stupid looking. Then I saw a skinny 55 year old woman climb off a geezer glide with a fox tail attached at the rear of her assless chaps, I mean, it might have been OK at a swingers club or a porno movie but it was just stupid looking at the Speedway gas station. I have gays(not to be confused with FAGS) living on both sides of me and nobody dresses up like that, not even on Halloween. |
Danger_dave
| Posted on Sunday, October 31, 2010 - 10:03 pm: |
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>>In my opinion, this bike blows away ANYTHING ever made by Harley Davidson. << I like it a lot - but I don't agree that it blows any Harley away. Point to point ride with corners I'll take an XR1200X. The way it (Hammer) handles is all part of the fun - and the effort it takes to ride it I find very pleasurable. But that's partly because it's also the most unusual handling new motorcycle I've tested. Very skittish. (Message edited by danger_dave on October 31, 2010) |
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