| Author | Message | ||
     89rs1200 |
After what Harley-Davidson management did to Buell, Now this? Now at a time my heart is breaking. Expect they will rape and pillage Ducati into non-existence. I say that not a a hater of Harley-Davidson, but with the understanding that corporations tend to buy up the competition, keep that which helps the bottom line, sell off the rest. "Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) is preparing to make an offer to acquire Ducati, the Italian motorcycle rival owned by Volkswagen (OTC:VLKAY), according to a Reuters report published Wednesday. The iconic American bike maker joins India’s Bajaj Auto and multiple buyout funds in the race to buy Ducati, Reuters said. The deal could be worth up to $1.67 billion. A Harley-Davidson spokesperson told FOX Business that the company doesn’t comment on market rumors. Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson, which recently announced plans for a new factory in Thailand, has accelerated its global ambitions as motorcycle brands face a shrinking U.S. market." https://www.thestreet.com/story/14189578/1/harley- davidson-considering-bid-for-italian-rival-ducati. html https://finance.yahoo.com/news/harley-davidson-rea dies-offer-buy-161800728.html | ||
| Greg_e |
And with all that EBR IP sitting there for peanuts... | ||
| Jaimec |
It worked so WELL when they bought MV Agusta, right?? | ||
| Hughlysses |
Maybe they'll buy the IP and rehire Erik to be Ducati's new chief engineer.  | ||
| Mark_weiss |
It WAS very good for MV. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I wonder if anyone is still in management at Harley that was there during the MV Agusta fiasco and Buell shutdown? Willie G is gone; Keith Wandell is gone. Others? | ||
| Court |
Ron Hutchinson is gone. | ||
| Scarpent1 |
Matt Levatich was the one that restarted MV and got them going. Then must have agreed with giving it back with the 25 million euro seed fund. He must be the one orchestrating this move. I cannot see this going well. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I heard the first thing Harley plans to do is resurrect some of Ducati's lesser know models::   | ||
| Jaimec |
Me, I'm waiting for the Willie G. Special Edition CVO Panigale. I'm expecting them to replace all the carbon fiber with CHROME! | ||
| Ak_addict |
All Diavel's will come with a free skull cap and leather chaps. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Don't forget the little stupid bell! | ||
| Greg_e |
The bell must be given, you can not buy it and hope the evil spirits will be scared away. This just came up on the V-Twin forums. I can't believe that they would even think they could be profitable, VW is selling for a reason, if it was making money there would be no reason to sell. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I can't believe that they would even think they could be profitable, VW is selling for a reason, if it was making money there would be no reason to sell. Not necessarily. VW has dug themselves a BIG hole with "dieselgate" and they need lots of cash quickly to dig out of it. | ||
| Jaimec |
What Hugh said... Ducati has actually been profitable for VW, but they need big money FAST. I want to see Casey Stoner riding the new Ducati Road Glide at Philip Island... | ||
| 1313 |
I am having difficulty seeing H-D shareholders actually being supportive of H-D buying Ducati. Wouldn't they be thinking: Didn't we lose our asses, no wait - have our asses handed to us, about 10 years ago when we bought an established Italian motorcycle company with brand recognition, established distribution in Europe, and an impressive racing history, at a SIGNIFICANTLY lower initial investment? And what's the accepted definition of insanity again? I'd think the Board of Directors, who would most immediately be able to influence the decision would have much more vivid memories of that entire debacle. Unless they're all 'gone', and then "history" is what happened before their time on the Board, and then ANYTHING could happen. However, just maybe, it will get Gene Guizzetti back to Italy... I think I gave more than $0.02 on this one! (Message edited by 1313 on June 22, 2017) | ||
| Mnscrounger |
1313 wrote: "And what's the accepted definition of insanity again?" Brankin, it might not be insanity. Being the critical thinker you are, perhaps this is simply HD using scientific method to determine a pattern. "HMM, we bought Amerrachi, Buell, and MV Agusta, and all 3 of them saw reduced, or zero value at the end of our management of them......................................... I wonder if that happens EVERY TIME?... We'll have to acquire another motorcycle brand to determine what the success interval pattern actually is." See, it might not be insanity. | ||
| Don_sabo |
That just pisses me off. Why not just purchase EBR and with the extra money saved versus the purchase price for Ducati. Build some truly incredible bike's and show the motorcycle industry what American innovation can accomplish. | ||
| Jaimec |
Because that makes way too much sense for Harley management... | ||
| Hybridmomentspass |
Because at this point EBR has no value - people dont trust the brand (outside the few of us who are dedicated). People arent going to buy EBRs because no one knows (before this) if they'll be open in a few months or not. Buell shut down in 2010 New company starts shortly after selling $40k bikes Couple years later they're in trouble again after the 'independent' EBR relied so heavily on Hero and got screwed by them. Then comes LAP. A year or so later and here we are. I love my Buells, wish I had an EBR, but we are in the minority and EVERYONE knows it. The brand has no value. Ducati...well, they have heritage, they have value. (I chuckle everytime I read 'iconic ebr factory'...like it'd been around so long etc) | ||
| Oddball |
Ducati Davidson, everyone will want double D's! Shame they wouldn't buy the EBR IP and bring back Buell XB's. Call them the Racesters. Current sportsters would become the Sportster Classic line. XB's become the Sportster Next Generation. Build them all on street legal XBRR engines. "XBRRrrrrrrrrrrrrr A hurricane force breeze in the air cooled world." 1190's become the Racester line. All the lunatics here can be Racesterfarians! | ||
| Dave |
Hello? Ring familiar? Is Clinton in office and Grundge on the radio? Substitute "BUELL" for "Ducati" thought this piece. http://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2017/ 06/22/marriage-between-harley-davidson-and-ducati- would-blend-two-iconic-brands/421374001/ The majority of HD dealers don't want "swoopy, Euro racers built for speed, not comfort" in the dealerships sharing valuable floor space with the chrome and tassel recipients! This played out with Buell already when HD dealers were forced to carry Buell... Only to have them crammed in a corner collecting dust, telling interested riders that they need a real motorcycle and steering them away ... then complaining they don't sell. Rick? You live in WI and have reported on Buell before? Yet you penned... "Harley-Davidson could attract new, young customers through Ducati, and those folks might someday buy a Harley cruiser or a touring bike as their interests in motorcycling changed over the years. But Ducati has other bikes in its lineup, too. And it attracts customers who are a little older and more financially established than typical young motorcyclists, and those folks aren’t as likely to switch brands." Queue some Stone Temple Pilots Harley-Davidson could attract new, young customers through BUELL and those folks might someday buy a Harley cruiser or a touring bike as their interests in motorcycling changed over the years. But BUELL has other bikes in its lineup, too. And it attracts customers who are a little older and more financially established than typical young motorcyclists, and those folks aren’t as likely to switch brands. DAve | ||
| Steveford |
Assless leather pants with red, white and green suspenders. Willie G., take my pennies and make me happy!!! | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
Already ordered mine  | ||
| Mnscrounger |
Finally, a sport tourer with an honest to goodness windshield. | ||
| 89rs1200 |
OK Now I am on board. I want one. Harley Davidson needs to hire Williamscottrobertson as a designer.  | ||
| Tootal |
Even has the seat with the water slot in it! Smartest invention in seat design in years! Helps useless raingear to actually work! | ||
| Greg_e |
Water slot? You do know that's where the driver backrest goes through, right? | ||
| Hughlysses |
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| Toxic |
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