Looks like TheMoCo's profits and sales are up (11%) over last year. A couple of choice bits:
"Harley-Davidson is all about fulfilling dreams through remarkable motorcycles and extraordinary customer experiences. In 2011 we made strong progress at transforming our business to be more agile and effective than ever at exceeding customer expectations," Wandell said. "The changes underway across the organization will enable Harley-Davidson to be world class and customer led like never before, with shorter product development lead times, flexible manufacturing and an unmatched premium retail experience.
And even curiouser:
MOTORCYCLE SHIPMENTS: 12 months ended 12/31/2011 Harley-Davidson United States 152,180 International 80,937 Total Harley-Davidson 233,117
After how bad they did in 2010, it is like wining the Special Olympics. The 233,117 they shipped in 2011 is still down quite a bit from the 303,479 units in 2008 or the 349k in 2006.
Before you jump on the those are bikes built not profit numbers, if you look at the profit numbers you will see similar how Harley was doing better in mid 2000s than the last 2 or 3 years.
The 2012 Softail Slim FLS blends raw, minimalistic 1940s bobber styling with up-to-date old school minimalism. The Slim offers tons of stripped down attitude, fat features, including black-rimmed wheels, round black air cleaner cover, Hollywood-style handlebars, and fat chromed front forks, as well as raw, minimalistic finishes throughout. Its chopped rear fender and narrow rear profile adds to the Softail Slim's long, lean vintage chopper look. The 103cc Twin Cam engine gives the Slim FLS the power punch you need to crush those hills or leave traffic passed and behind. The Softail FLS sports blacked out features and raw finishes for a no-nonsense attitude that recalls classic bobbers of the 1940; the engine, rims, air-cover, headlamp and more are all blacked out. The Harley-Davidson Slim rides with confidence-inspiring handling, at low and high speeds, and its light design makes putting it on or lifting it off its easy jiffy stand quick and easy. The Harley Slim is a great value with muscular, minimalist styling and powerful performance packed into a bike that's affordable. And if this bike isn't what you're looking for, check out other Harley-Davidson custom motorcycles, like the Softail Blackline FXS, Sportster Forty-Eight XL1200X, the Dyna Fat Bob FXDF, or the new Sportster Seventy-Two XL1200V. Harley-Davidson is the leader in fat custom, dark custom and bobber style bikes and you're sure to find one that's perfect for you.
you are going to make profits when parts are being made in china with labor cost and material under what we would pay in the US. HD has done good in marketing, their brand is known all over. the HD stores at airports are goofy, since there are no bikes but greta idea becuase all this foreigners think by buyind a shirt that says HD is american eventhouh it was made in china, lol
Higher profits means they found new sources of 11 y.o. girls to cut, sow and print all those Tshirts and doo rags in China. The boys are punching out all those cheap chrome pieces.....
per unite profits maybe up, but the market in units of sold, has not reached back up to 2006 levels locally. I keep my fingers in the tally enough to know that no regional sales guy is pullin 200 units a year - hell there are C cap DEALERS that aren't pulling those numbers.
It will come back..... In typical 7-10 of the normal business trend cycle.... barring the FED doesnt do something amazingly stupid with the currency (as they have on the docket for 2016)
damnit, I kinda like that 72. XL1200V reminds me of one we built 5 years ago little nasty nightster with apes, forwards, a RSD pipe and forced induction.
I like that 72 too. I may have to check that puppy out. The bike in my profile was my 72 CB550... 16" rear wheel and 4" extended fork... had ape hangers when I bought it but they were home made with twisted iron and broke on the road one day... still made it home. haha