|
SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1561053340 Message started by Oldfeller on 06/20/19 at 10:55:40 |
|
Title: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by Oldfeller on 06/20/19 at 10:55:40 https://jalopnik.com/harley-davidson-is-fighting-for-its-life-by-building-an-1835649241 Harley-Davidson is in trouble, and has been for some time. Young people in America don’t want the big, heavy motorcycles that are Harley’s main business, and President Trump’s trade war has been nigh disastrous. So Harley increasingly has turned to Asia. Pretty soon, the company hopes, selling bikes abroad will be its biggest market. Harley’s in a weird spot. But like how Buick sells a ton of cars in China but is trying to get over its image as a has-been here in the U.S., Harley has found that its image overseas has much greater upside than here. What’s interesting about that strategy, is that Harley is growing in Asia and other markets by selling lighter-weight motorcycles, which is the same strategy that Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, and Suzuki used to nearly break Harley itself when they entered the American market in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Now, according to The Wall Street Journal, Harley is partnering with Qianjiang Motorcycle, a Chinese company—backed by Geely, owner of Volvo—to produce a light motorcycle, with a goal to sell half its motorcycles overseas by 2027. Harley already has plants in Brazil, India, Australia, and Thailand, and said last year that it would be closing its operations at its plant in Kansas City. Harley Davidson is selling their name brand usage to other bike manufacturers, for them to make and sell their bikes as Harleys over in Asia. Harley is in essence peddling the Harley namebrand to make a buck. |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by Dave on 06/20/19 at 11:26:07 Harley has been selling the same V-Twin for a very long time. Can you imagine if Ford or Chevy or any auto company was still selling you a car with an engine design as out of date? The US is just a tiny fraction of the worldwide motorcycle business, and Harley has been able to survive by selling the same bike to the same customers for years......that era is coming to and end. Companies like Polaroid and Xerox weren't able to see the future and adapt - maybe Harley has gotten a bit smarter.....only time will tell if it was too little too late. This is the second time Harley has experienced this - AMF bought the struggling company and kept if from folding in 1969 and kept is along for another 12 years. The Baby Boomer generation gave it a resurgence, and they aren't buying them now as they sign up for Medicare. There are so many low mileage used Harley motorcycles on the market - I don't see how the dealer can sell new ones (except to those who have a lot of discretionary money). The only way that Harley can survive is by building a product that will sell to the world market - and all the other manufacturers have a big head start....it will be hard for Harley to design and build new bikes, create a worldwide dealer network and beat the others at the game. |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by Gary_in_NJ on 06/20/19 at 13:53:10 Jalopnik is such a political website. "President Trump’s trade war has been nigh disastrous" Really? It's hitting China HARD. The following companies have announced that they are pulling all or a significant portion of their manufacturing out of China (reported just today): Apple GoPro Hasbro Steve Madden Stanley Black & Decker Brooks Running Whirlpool Corp. Intel Corp. This is significant and is a direct result of US trade policy. Not all of these companies are moving back to the US, but the point is the tariffs, and the recognition that China doesn't respect US Patents, is causing these companies to move their business OUT of China. This is just the start. Mexico, Vietnam, India...all better places for US companies to set up off-shore manufacturing. With regards to Harley, a company that stands still gets left behind. With the profits Harley made over the last few decades, their product portfolio should look like KTM's or Triumph's. Instead, it looks like Harley circa 1993. Harley squandered time, money and resources. Now they are in trouble. |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by philthymike on 06/20/19 at 14:44:10 Not to mention the Harley bad boy look, typically associated with the lowest common denominator, has become more of a sign of conformity than one of rebellion. It's long in the tooth and watered down to the point of irony. It's so ironic that the Hipsters like it. But not enough to spend their trust funds on it. Triumph still controls that market segment. If HD made a bike similar to my Hyperstrada I'd but it. Sporty handling, 110HP V-twin , 456 lbs with good all around multi-purpose capabilities and in the same price range I'd say take my money. To have such a bike with a large domestic service network would be ideal. Harley should have kept Buell going and it should have let him design their modern lineup. Duh! Big mistake IMO. |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by zipidachimp on 06/20/19 at 20:58:57 Philthy! agreed, but I think it was the dealers that didn't want Buell. 8-) |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by MMRanch on 06/20/19 at 21:04:13 I don't know how Harley survived this long. We're getting an Indian Motorcycle Shop in Lynchburg Tn. The Sloans Cycles in middle Tn. is selling Indians , Guzzi , Vespa , KTM , Aprilia , Clevand's , plus the big 4 from Japan. Almost everything but Harley and BMW's https://sloansmotorcycle.com/ So , if the big Harley , a GoldWing , a Indian Cheiftan , the big Guzzi , and the big BMW are all the same $$$ .... then where do you Invest your $$$ ? :-? Or Do you just buy Three or Four different $5,000 - $8,000 - bikes instead. or even 5 of them ? ;D So , is that giant price "why" they're having a hard time ? But Harley is not the only high $$$ bike out there ... |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by zipidachimp on 06/20/19 at 23:00:11 If I can buy a basic Mustang for the price of a Harley, guess which I'd choose? 8-) |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by philthymike on 06/21/19 at 07:31:55 A Hyundai? :D Or maybe a Hyundai Davidson? ;D |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by philthymike on 06/21/19 at 07:56:44 Instead of glomming onto the Rolling Stones... https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2019/06/06/harley-davidson-partners-with-rock-icons-the.html Shouldn't they have partnered up with a band that actually wrote a song about them? https://youtu.be/IJqut44z99M ;D |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/21/19 at 08:10:33 Don't you ever wonder how many dollars worth of Harley Davidson motorcycles are parked in garages with minimal miles on them, bought by guys who had no real experience with riding, just saw the ads, bought into the hype and thought they would now be cool and have some near spiritual experience because It's a Harley,,,, ? I wonder how many Harleys that are sitting under a layer of dust were the first bike they'd owned. |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by philthymike on 06/21/19 at 10:49:25 Makes me think of the neighbor behind me. Has Harley all blinged out that lives in a custom made bike shed with a steel door, floodlights and security cameras. Every 3rd month he comes out (in badass Harley guy costume), gives me his usual stinkeye, and actually rides the thing making as much noise as he possibly can. He goes around the neighborhood a couple times then parks at the bar. A few hours later he's back washing the bike and blow drying it with a leaf blower before putting it back in its vault for another couple months. I'm fairly certain I wear out a set of tires faster than he goes through a tank of gas. He sure does love driving his HD emblem festooned pickup though. I'm sure HD can solve all its business dilemmas by producing a line of pickups ::) |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/21/19 at 16:21:22 I'm sure HD can solve all its business dilemmas by producing a line of pickups I see guys, alone, in their empty pickups, with HD decals and often The I'm a Badass Harley rider cap, vest, whatever,,, and wonder why isn't he riding... And when I Do see a rider waaay down the road and can tell he's not wearing a helmet, and as he comes closer I see he's wearing flip flops and shorts, THEN I know he's riding a Harley. Harley Davidson motorcycles are just too cool to be affected by gravel and Nobody would EVER turn left across the path of a Harley, not ever. Buncha Dilberts.p |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by philthymike on 06/21/19 at 16:40:29 PA is one of those bass akwards states with no helmet laws. However many cops I've spoken with say they're 10 times more likely to pull over and ticket riders without helmets on general principle. And those people tend to be the great majority of Harley riders. They pay extra to look cool - for their bikes, their rebel costumes and for tickets. I ride with a helmet. Never been stopped. 8-) |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/21/19 at 17:59:39 I see them with no windshield No helmet Zero eye protection.. I mean WTF? I see crotch rocketeers in shorts and tee shirt But they have a helmet and gloves. I would not ride without my boots, pants, tee shirt, and long sleeved welding shirt, gloves and helmet. I tried it without the long sleeves and the grit flying off the road was not cool... |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by philthymike on 06/21/19 at 20:03:20 Don't forget allergens. If you suffer from allergies like me you want to ride covered up, especially this time of year. Rode with my half helmet and sunglasses recently and cried my eyes out. Switching to my goggles solved that. Then when you get home all covered in pollen you can take off your outer layers and sit on the couch without getting that crap all over it. |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by hotrod on 06/21/19 at 20:17:58 I sold my 2011 Sportster 48. Now I don't have to chain my wallet to my pants anymore, also my hair is growing in much thicker since I no longer have to wear a rag on my head. People at rest stops talk to me as they assume that I don't have a attitude. Funny thing. I did like that bike. ;D |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by philthymike on 06/21/19 at 20:33:54 There's alot to like about some of their bikes. The big touring monsters have a practical use and are well thought out. I have pretty long hair but I manage to not look outlawish so I'm frequently approached by random people wanting to talk to me at rest areas and parking garages etc. I just think that motorcycling in this country gets a bad rap thanks to the old Harley badass mentality. I try to put it in a positive light when talking to strangers. Many people out there have always wanted to try it but didn't want to be seen as or noticed by 1%ers. Lots of silly preconceptions steer people away. It's a shame. |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by MMRanch on 06/21/19 at 20:46:08 JOG I suspect for every Harley with over 100k miles there is 100 with less than 10k miles just taking up garage space . ;D From what I've seen ... very few bikes ever get over 100K miles on them. Harley or not. my last Harley (883) had about 45K miles on it and had started weeping oil from both cylinders . my last 4 cylinder (Kawasaki 750LTD) had a flopping cam-chain before 50K miles. I got tired of most of them before they were wore-out. my first Savage suffered from a warped head due to an error on my part. my current S-40 only has almost 50K on it and except for the Cam-adjuster and some clutch work its been trouble free. |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by MMRanch on 06/21/19 at 22:36:26 Just found this on the Guzzi site : https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/motorcycles/harley-davidson-just-revealed-the-most-important-new-motorcycle-in-its-history-%e2%80%94-and-it-isnt-electric/ar-AAD7rm8?li=BBnbfcL 338 cc Harley ! Stew , don't put money on that 400cc Kawasaki yet ! you might could have a Harley for the same money ? ::) |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by Dave on 06/22/19 at 03:21:45 697B697B76656A676C240 wrote:
From the looks of that photo......Harley is going to start building the Buell Blast again - but with a smaller engine size. :o |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by MMRanch on 06/22/19 at 09:20:14 Ya , it looks like a single cylinder with two exhaust valves and exhaust pipes to match . Do ya think it might be liquid cooled ? I'm thinking Harley would need to maintain their low RPM - long stroke image at least as much as 338cc would allow . You know what ? Didn't Harley make a 350cc single in the (1970 ?) that looked like an over grown Honda 65cc ? :-? |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by Dave on 06/22/19 at 11:05:09 726072606D7E717C773F0 wrote:
Yep.....the Sprint. It also came in a 250cc size - but the 350 was more popular. https://www.mecum.com/lots/LV0115-201011/1969-harley-davidson-sprint-350/ |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by hotrod on 06/22/19 at 11:37:02 I sold mine about 6 years ago for $800.00 They were made in Italy. :'( |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by Ruttly on 06/22/19 at 13:49:41 The birth of the Sportster saved the company some 50/60 years ago. I’ve been saying it for years “it’s only a matter of time” till it comes crashing down for their American market. A huge hint is when the pulled out all of the funding for Alta Motorcycles , causing Alta to close. A massive mistake they should have done a hostile takeover and then sold Altas under the H/D name. I find it hilarious that a huge company like H/D with all that money cant see the market is changing and not adapt and even build a electric bike that has no possible chance in this market. Dumb & Dumber ! Stupid is Stupid does ! You can’t fix Stupid ! And don’t blame the president while he didn’t help the situation he didn’t put H/D in this situation. After all we don’t ride looking at the front wheel , we are looking as far ahead as possible , but H/D is staring at their front wheel with no attempt of looking into their market futures ! My 2 cents worth , from a dumb mechanic. ;D |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by Fast 650 on 06/22/19 at 15:32:55 5E65687F6E62797F646C617E0D0 wrote:
Yep.....the Sprint. It also came in a 250cc size - but the 350 was more popular. [/quote] They also imported some various 2 stroke singles over the years. The Baja 100, and the Sprints were replaced by a Spanish made 250 2 stroke. And there was the Shortster, I forget who made that one. |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by Dave on 06/22/19 at 16:26:49 If Harley had made this......I might be riding one! http://i68.tinypic.com/1z557r6.jpg |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by LANCER on 06/22/19 at 17:28:07 Dave, the RYCA Sporty cafe kit would get you going in that direction. [ch128513] |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by Matchless G11 on 06/22/19 at 17:43:38 457E7364757962647F777A65160 wrote:
Harley did, the XR1200 The shame they killed it off. Give me a 1956 khk |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by batman on 06/22/19 at 20:46:14 The new big HD's now run water cooled heads , they where always high torque /lower rpm/ long stroke motors ,now with fuel injection. It's to bad they invested in 30,000 dollar electric bikes , when there money could have been better invested in a clean burning diesel motor .All the basics exist ,except higher compression. ( and some brain cells) |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by Ruttly on 06/22/19 at 23:16:17 477C7166777B60667D757867140 wrote:
They did , the CR1000 |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by Dave on 06/23/19 at 03:30:46 5558575A5C4B0B0E390 wrote:
Lancer: I am just about done with project bikes that don't have room for luggage and throw water all over me when it rains. I think I have one more Savage project in my future.......one that will resemble an early British single - but it will have saddlebags and a rear rack and proper fenders, and I will be able to use it for road trips. I anticipate it to be the bike I will ride into Geezerdom.....for when the 500 pound bikes just become too heavy for me. |
|
Title: Re: Harley Davidson struggling, closing KC plant Post by ohiomoto on 06/24/19 at 06:02:33 1C272A3D2C203B3D262E233C4F0 wrote:
From the looks of that photo......Harley is going to start building the Buell Blast again - but with a smaller engine size. :o [/quote]----------------------------------- Don't get too excited...it's not for us: "..on Wednesday the company made a far more significant announcement: a small-displacement motorcycle - 338cc - for the China market, to be built with Qianjiang Motorcycle Company Limited..." |
|
SuzukiSavage.com » Powered by YaBB 2.2! YaBB © 2000-2007. All Rights Reserved. |