| Author | Message | ||
     Dannybuell |
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-07-20/harley -rises-after-profit-tops-analysts-estimates.html That should mean a lot all of us! | ||
| Slipknot |
The workers now make less, have less in benefits, the tax payers now have to make up for the incentives HD gets for not moving but take heart, the stock is up. Still over weight, under powered, inadequate ground clearance and laughable aerodynamics but the tradition lives! Change? Never. | ||
| Jng1226 |
Ouch! The truth hurts. You can be sure the "executives" running the show are going to be enjoying their bonuses for such stunning financial performance. Perhaps the company is doing well after all their slashing and burning, but how their dealers are surviving is beyond me. I dropped my 1125 of on Sunday for a P1047 code and there was NOBODY in the showroom and every bike appeared to have the "super sale" tag showing how much it had been discounted. Not the sign of a healthy business, IMHO. In the post-real-estate-bust-recession economy, I don't think Harley will ever get back to their 2000's glory days. They have peaked for sure. Jeff | ||
| Jdugger |
F'em. The only news about HD that could make me smile is a Chapter 7 liquidation. | ||
| Ratgin |
If we can’t get there by mid-September, the timing is such that we’re going to have to a build a new plant somewhere and get the thing up and running so we’re still online to meet our objective.” Hello Mexico/India Thank you American Taxpayers for funding HD so we can close both plants, layoff all 1900 employees and move the factory offshore. | ||
| Jdugger |
Anti-union posturing. They could locate in Tennessee or Texas and achieve the same goal. Can't say I blame 'em on that one. I'd opt for a right-to-work state if I were a manufacturer, too. | ||
| Ratgin |
HDMC breaking a union contract 2 years early is pretty much a guarantee of a strike. You can almost hear the resulting HDMC PR line,, we had to move the factory offshore due to the labour issue. Since we were forced to build a new plant to ensure our survival we had to reduce labour costs. This required us to build offshore. | ||
| Dannybuell |
As long as they are in business there is hope for a better stator... | ||
| Cowboytutt |
I own a '09 Harley Street Bob as well as an '09 Buell 1125CR. I have to say that the Harley is the more refined product in every way. Right down to the dipstick and how you check the oil or do any other sort of self-maintenance. I don't applaud HD's decision to shut down Buell at all, in fact I think they made a HUGE mistake, but they do make a fine product and that is for sure. If you don't own a modern one, well, things have changed at Harley. Mine has over 16K on it and its been reliable as can be, more so than my '98 BMW which would have been very expensive if not for the 3 year warrenty! -Tutt | ||
| Dktechguy112 |
I am pissed off at harley for making a huge mistake by shutting down buell, but i think they make good bikes. I have an 05 sportster 883, i have 17k miles on it, and all i have done is a few oil changes and one set of tires. It has been very reliable and cheap to operate. Harley makes good cruisers, but now that buell is gone they don't have a real sportbike, the vrod is still a hyped up cruiser imo. | ||
| Ratgin |
Well HD does still have a pretty good sport bike MV F4 is kinda nice. LOL Cagvia Elefant is a very decent dual sport, no idea if HD ever considered dropping a rotax motor in it. Expensive Boutique bikes which will fit perfect in their line up, They just need to fix the dealer network and roll the bikes out properly. Pretty much like they should have done with Buell, | ||
| Ogobracing |
Jdugger, et al It's the union wages and benefits that make it possible for people to buy a Harley. When we all make minimum wage or even a bit more, we won't be buying the toys we do now. Unions uphold everyone's wages. | ||
| Ratbuell |
HD does make a pretty good bike. ONE type. ONE style. ONE function. And that is ALL they know how to make. It's also the only type of motorcycle they proclaim to be "viable" in the market, and THAT is their mistake. Not that they build a bad motorcycle, not at all...but that they have decided - "for all of us" - that a hi-torque, low HP, chrome-flash cushy cruiser is the only kind of motorcycle that anyone will ever need, and it's the only thing they know how to market. THAT is going to cause them the most trouble - not changing with the market. | ||
| Cravacor |
Eff Wandell and his threats to move out of Wisconsin, they already effed most of their workers in York, they will do it again. Ford, GM and Chrysler did the same long ago... I wonder where Willie G stands on all of this BS posturing? Nothing wrong with their bikes, just not for me. The management and the ash-tray and bandanna marketing is just disgusting, though. When we lose our manufacturing base we lose what is great about this country. No one cares as long as their is "Dancing with American Idol Vampire Bachelorettes" on TV and plenty of cheap Chinese merchandise available to us at Walmart. Bread and circus, never mind the man behind the curtain. Obey. | ||
| Tpoppa |
Harley builds motorcycles to support T-shirt sales & licensing of their logo. They make most of their $$ on clothing, which is largely produced outside the US. | ||
| Freight_dog |
It's the union wages and benefits that make it possible for people to buy a Harley. Amen. | ||
| Dannybuell |
----Worth repeating---- From Ogobracing - "It's the union wages and benefits that make it possible for people to buy a Harley. When we all make minimum wage or even a bit more, we won't be buying the toys we do now. Unions uphold everyone's wages." ---------------------- Bingo! The corporate-government types have been moving-allowing jobs to go out of country for over forty years. I am not even going to bring up the low wage pressures from immigrants,oops! NOW it' 2007 everybody act all surprised, what happened to the consumer economy?? The distribution of wealth in America has never been greater. Reagan's "Trickle Down Economics" was the foundation for the rich getting richer. The middle class has not been so thin since ... The corporate types have had their way far too long in government. Conservatives and Liberals are guilty alike. Sorry for the rant. | ||
| Milt |
Rant on, Brother. However, I respectfully submit that you do it on the QuickBoard, lest this forum turn into an arena for flameheads and other keyboard warriors. Once the flames find their way here, you can kiss any civility goodbye. | ||
| Court |
If you are depending on union membership to carry you . . . you've attached your anchor to a rapidly sinking rock. Judge for yourself. I'm not against unions. In the days my Grandfather was helping ( and being threatened ) to organize the I.B.E.W. the union meant quality and safety. He died before I was born but was a staunch I.B.E.W. member. Dad was a member since he was 16, ABA, Steward and went on to become one of the larger union contractors. I got my first card at the age of 14 working at Northeast Power Plant in Kansas City. But since I've moved to NYC I've seen membership drop like a rock. What the "union means" has changed. Some folks still get it, others don't. | ||
| Imonabuss |
Wow, H-D stock back to 1/3rd of what it was at the peak? How impressive, let's have a round of bonuses, along with another round of pay and job cuts! Good times at the top. | ||
| Tpoppa |
If you are depending on union membership to carry you . . . you've attached your anchor to a rapidly sinking rock. I tend to agree. I think a fundamental flaw with the American market is this: "You need to support your wage." Everyone thinks they deserve $100k for flipping burgers, but don't want to pay more than $1 for that same burger. The math just doesn't work. The result is imports from China, manufacturing jobs to Mexico, call centers in India, etc. | ||
| Dannybuell |
Tpoppa - It looks like that to me sometimes. We must remember it is government's responsibility is to address only those issues that the citizenry cannot. Societies that have no middle class, their days are numbered. | ||
| Puredrive |
If you are depending on union membership to carry you . . . you've attached your anchor to a rapidly sinking rock. I tend to agree. I think a fundamental flaw with the American market is this: "You need to support your wage." Everyone thinks they deserve $100k for flipping burgers, but don't want to pay more than $1 for that same burger. The math just doesn't work. The result is imports from China, manufacturing jobs to Mexico, call centers in India, etc. Hey what happened to the American Dream..Have a house and two cars.? lol my 2c, I have worked in the corporate world, where my job went to a central American country. The way I see it, it sure seems that instead of companies keeping their employees happy, the bottom line seems to be keeping the share holders happy. but anyway..I would not mind having this HD model  | ||
| A10tankkill |
Puredrive, my job was outsourced down the concourse at the airport to our commuter line. Didn't do the hometown airline any good, they are gone as is the CEO with a sweet pot of cash and retirement to Florida. Jobs aren't all going overseas, they are going to other states. That is what Harley is threatening here in Wisconsin. They are playing one state against another, union/ non union, greatest tax break, etc. | ||
| Blake |
Might want to check stats on income class in America since Reagan took office... More wealthier folks and fewer poor folks is a bad thing? How can anyone blame any corporation for trying to cut costs and remain competitive, meaning remain in business? Labor unions today are primarily political organizations for the Dems, taking money from all their members to push the Dem political agenda. Bring the factories to Texas. | ||
| Jdugger |
> When we all make minimum wage or even a bit more, we won't be buying the toys we do now. Unions uphold everyone's wages. Ogo, Just understand that I've NEVER worked for a Union, and I've NEVER made minimum wage, either. Don't give me that crap about unions floating all boats: I spent too many years self-employed to fall for that nonsense. I have enough taken out of my paycheck for a bunch of fools to "look after me" in the form of taxes. I don't need a union to do more of them same -- I can look out for myself, thank you. | ||
| Tpoppa |
Unions uphold everyone's wages. Perhaps in the past. Over the last 20 years, they've done more harm than good to the US economy. Not all unions are bad, but the vast majority have outlived their usefulness. | ||
| Brumbear |
I been saying it for 2 years now Madrass India will make sportsters soon | ||
| Court |
>>>Madrass India will make sportsters soon The shame is that it does not have to be that way. It's amazing that some American's have lost sight of how darn well we do things. Some of the experiences that a good friend of mine has had lately, sadly, underscore that. Some American manufacturing firms will suggest you go to China to source something before they'd eve consider producing less than 5,000 units. Laziness and lack of vision are our common enemy . . . matters not if your means are meager or bountiful. The moment that pride once again eclipses price and leaders with vision replace CEO's with myopic focus on share price . . . . I pray for that day. | ||
| Dannybuell |
Blake - Try reading Kevin Phillips any of his books or try this; Wealth and Democracy: A Political History of the American Rich http://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Democracy-Political-H istory-American/dp/0767905342/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s =books&qid=1279765716&sr=8-2 |
