| Author | Message | ||
     Luxor |
Ok, like all of you here I was heart broken by the HD decision to axe Buell. I mean come on, a true American sportbike/superbike on the cusp of WORLD greatness. The XBs gave us fuel in frame, ZTL, under-slung exhaust, and countless other innovations. The 1125 taking those innovations to a whole different level and adding a water cooled TWIN. Incredible bikes, damn I own more then one, and will own more. Now, I believe that if HD hadn't shown an interest in Erik way back when we wouldn't have any of this. They allowed him to develop a vast array of ingenious and functional motorcycle innovations with their $$$. That $$$ gave us our bikes. What I'm trying to say is that HD kicked us all in the nuts, but they gave us a reason to feel that way in the first place. I will support HD because they make cruisers I can take my lady on nice relaxing rides with, c'mon you think a VTX or XYZ metric cruiser is for me, NOPE, AMERICAN all the way. When I am alone it's all Buell, and that's most of the time. My Vanson Buell silver foil riding jacket has the black/silver HD patch right below the BUELL and it will stay there. So, you see my view. I will always love Buell, and still support HD. OK, My flame gear is on!! | ||
| Midknyte |
I need to see Erik bounce back first. | ||
| Court |
And . . . it looks like folks are starting to question Harley-Davidson's recent commitment that their 4Q numbers would show exciting things as they focused on their "core market". The recent $0.10 dividend heightened concerns that HD won't make their 4Q numbers.
With a new target of $23 I'm seeing more folks shorting HD. Me? . . . I'm just waiting to see if they can come up with the May debt payment to Buffet. Eager to see who owns HD as the spring flowers bloom. | ||
| Elvis |
I need to see Erik bounce back first. I agree. Sure Harley had a hand in bringing Buell along (some would argue they had a hand in Holding Buell back), but that doesn't matter. Harley has absoluteley NO valid excuse for not selling the Buell rights or just giving them to Erik. Those actions are inexcusable and unjustifiable and I won't consider ever buying Harley under any circumstances if their decision stands. If they sell or turn over the rights, I'd consider a Harley at some point in the future. Even if Harley had done a much better job with Buell in the past (and actually helped rather than hindered their growth), that would not be justification for their current selfish acts. They seem to be showing their true colors and unless they do something soon to change my perception of them, I will not give any of my hard-earned money to them. (Message edited by elvis on December 23, 2009) | ||
| Elvis |
. . . to put it another way: If a couple adopted a son. Clothed, fed and nurtured him for many years . . . and then killed him, I wouldn't say: "That's okay. He wouldn't have even been where he was if not for them anyway." | ||
| Court |
Elvis: I ABSOLUTELY agree with your thinking. I'd love to buy another Harley-Davidson in the future but until they do the right thing with the Buell assets they are destroying I am a vocal critic and I'm telling everyone I see at every holiday cocktail party on Wall Street, in the NYC construction business, stock analysts, folks at Columbia, the 4 vice presidents at work (we're a publicly held corp several times larger than HD) and my students at Columbia will get a dose of HD in our entrepreneurism class. I'll not buy one thing from a Harley dealer that I don't absolutely have to until they straighten their act out. | ||
| Gunut75 |
I was going to write something, but Court did a fine job. | ||
| Kustomklassix |
Luxor - "c'mon you think a VTX or XYZ metric cruiser is for me, NOPE, AMERICAN all the way." You know, Victory's are American too, and then you don't have to give the motor company any more money! | ||
| Tbenson |
I think Victory is still the leader in American made and supported motorcycles available, with something like 80% of their bikes being American? What are Harley Davidson's like 20-40%, with accessories and merchandise being nearly 100% overseas? That would make supporting "American Made" kind of difficult with a Harley Davidson, would it not? | ||
| Luxor |
OK, all valid arguments. I am still pissed at HD myself. I was just trying to smooth it over in MY head. And, I've owned a Victory, don't really care for them much, too much Ness in them. I will always own Buells though, and buy what ever I can from EBR instead of HD. | ||
| Pogue_mahone |
as usual... court speaks loud and very clear. and i agree with him. he said it way better than anything i could add. | ||
| Lancruza |
 Well said Elvis! What a great analogy! | ||
| Nevrenuf |
yea, as morbid of an observation as it was for me, elvis's comment was still spot on. | ||
| Brumbear |
I completely agree with Elvis and Court. I have a question forgive me but I am not stock savvy. Will H-D also use the recent Buell sales numbers to kind of cook the books for a 4th quater earnings ? I know they somehow have to show all the rebate money but I don't know if they can make it look like (we sold all these bikes so it justifies this expense of "rebates and closing Buell" so our efforts of core values are working) I hope I explain this right I have such a hard time with this and get so upset when the numbers wizards make everything look rosey in CORPRATE world favor sorry for the rant |
