[Jagman]

I've heard they want to close their York, PA plant altogether. One reason that they started production down in Brazil was to inch out of high US labor costs, but I think customer outrage put a stop to that.

There aren't that many boomers around who haven't already bought a hog that wanted one. I predict lower sales until another Easy Rider captures a new generation...

[Tallguy]

What I’m hearing is that most of Harley’s York facility will be shut down as the manufacturing retreats into the new building there that currently houses soft-tail assembly.

If Harley were to totally abandon York (PA) they’d be leaving a lot of Pennsyvania tax relief on the table.

They basically ended the 2008 model year several weeks early so that they could furlough some workers while they changed over model years. If the bike forecast for ‘09 continues to exceed capacity they will do the same in ‘09.