Harley dealers turn to discounts

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ^ | June 25, 2007 | RICK BARRETT

[BraveMan]

A couple of points:

1. The V-Rod based touring bike is a no-brainer. Several dealers in the Wisconsin area are already rolling their own versions, some of which look pretty enticing.

2. HD aquiring Ducati would be a win-win for both firms, IMHO. Ducati would benefit from a strong dealership support structure in the United States (something they've historically lacked) and HD would benefit from an influx of race-bred sporting technology augmenting Buell's current contributions.

[BraveMan]

Could you please alert the Hooligans?

[napscoordinator]

Harley shares fell 3% Monday to close at $60.64.

Actually that is not too bad. I began buying my Harley stock back in 1995 or so and I believe it was around 33 dollars. I use the DRIP program and just send 50 bucks a month towards it. I guess now I am getting less than a share a month. lol.

[pikachu]

Ducati would be ruined by the Motor Company. Springer font ends on the new Supermotard and leather fringed saddle bags on the 1098 would probably be dictated by the boys in Milwaukee.

The new touring bike from Victory will probably kick the crap out of the Ultra line if HD is not careful.

[doorgunner69]

Some dealers are worried that the supply of Harleys is outpacing the demand, creating unhealthy competition among dealers,

Can't have competition now, can we?

And maybe demand is slowing as all the poseurs buying in to the "lifestyle" have become bored and moved on to the latest fad? This may be a blessing, forcing HD to move into the 21st century of design, which the V-Rod was a start, instead of wallowing in bogus imagery.

[Clam Digger]

Discounts on their main product line, clothing and bandana’s, or the secondary stuff like motorcycles?

[Hydroshock]

Oh well that is what you get when you make a technologically inferior donorcycle. Hopefully people are turning off of them to by better bikes.

[SFC Chromey]

1- I agree with the V-Rod. They need to start doing more with that machine.

2- Being a Duc owner, I have heard these rumors floating year in and year out for over 10 years. It isn’t going to happen. Also, what races have Buell won? Buell is a marketing gimic, even though I like their bikes- for the street- thay are definitely NOT racing machines. The last Buells I saw race AMA, broke their motors.

Leave it to Harley to be behind the curve. Fuel costs are making import bikes of all brands sell like hot-cakes. Harley’s are seen more as status symbols or trophies than practical transportation.

This situation is reminiscient of the 70’s when US auto makers didn’t change to meet the buying public car needs. To keep their sales up, Harley needs to look at making some changes.

[doorgunner69]

This situation is reminiscient of the 70’s when US auto makers didn’t change to meet the buying public car needs.

Or when the Brit bike makers did not respond in the 60's to the Japanese new bikes.

[SFC Chromey]

ezzzzzzactly!

[SFC Chromey]

One course may be a leveraged buyout, like what Texas Pacific Group did with Ducati a few years back. They listed Ducati ADR’s on the NYSE, and raised some solid amounts of cash. TPG recently sold their controlling interest back to key management and it is de-listing the ADR’s. It would be cleaner than the AMF-Harley days, in my view, because Harley’s names would stay front and center.

[Tallguy]

The V-Rod based touring bike is a no-brainer. Several dealers in the Wisconsin area are already rolling their own versions, some of which look pretty enticing.

I always thought the basic design of the V-Rod power plant was going to end-up on all, or most of the heavyweight bikes Harley produces. It's probably the only way to meet various emissions requirements that are ratcheting up the pressure on the 'Evolution Engine'.

[martin_fierro]

Visit the FMH Swag Store & support FR!
Send FReepmail if you want on/off FMH list
The List of Ping Lists

[BraveMan]

To keep their sales up, Harley needs to look at making some changes.

To some, making some changes means becoming more like the Japanese. That would be a mistake, IMHO.

To the casual (read 'disinterested') observer, nothing much has changed at The Motor Company for the last decade, which is simply not true. They've steadily increased displacement (to 92 cu.in on the Big Twins) to keep up with the general rising displacement trend among the other manufacturers, gone to EFI across their entire product line, added (shudder) counterbalancers to the rigid mounted motor lineup (Softails, etc.) added integrated Bluetooth & GPS capabilities to their radio equipped touring lineups, reduced driveline maintenance requirements to near zero, etc. etc.

Why is it that Ducati can build essentially the same style motor for over thirty years and everybody hails it as a positive thing, yet when HD sticks with the V-Twin they're considered by the detractors as 'stone-age'? Is it simply their success on the racetrack in their own specialized class?

Yea, the Buells broke. Hey, they were doggone fast for a little while . . . ;0)

[BraveMan]

Actually, the Twin Cam air cooled V-Twin already easily meets the stringent 2008 California emmissions standards without any additional modifications (or add-ons like evaporative canisters, catalytic converters, etc.). It’s the Japanese and the smaller manufacturers that are having the difficulty meeting the standards . . .

[tacticalogic]

I think anyone could have seen it coming just by paying attention to the classified ads in the newpaper. Not long ago, a used Evo for sale was rare, and the buyer was always asking top dollar.

[Tallguy]

Thanks for the correction on the V-Twin emissions. I was just passing along a comment that I had heard when the V-Rod watercooled engine hit the market. Probably somebody figuring that watercooled had to be superior in terms of tighter running clearances, etc. Made sense to me.

[MarkL]

Why is it that Ducati can build essentially the same style motor for over thirty years and everybody hails it as a positive thing, yet when HD sticks with the V-Twin they're considered by the detractors as 'stone-age'? Is it simply their success on the racetrack in their own specialized class?

Because with tweaks, the Ducati works really, REALLY well, more than 30 years later. While Ducati has pulled out of AMA racing, they practically own World Superbike, even with the rule change that allows the 1000cc 4 cylinders (used to be limited to 750cc).

Can't really say that about Harleys. The new designs are better than the old ones, but they've required major redesigns.

Mark

[BraveMan]

Ya gotta love analysts and consultants. Putting a price on common sense . . .

[pt17]

...instead of wallowing in bogus imagery

LOL, I get confused as to who's wallowing in bogus imagery, HD, the poseurs or both. Regardless, they all look the same around here with their HD duds, beanie helmets, scowl on face, overly-loud mufflers and riding like they have hemorrhoids and/or half a brain. The newbies seem to go for trying to make some fashion statement with the leather chaps, jackets and vests, even in 80 degree weather. If follows that these folks might eventually tire of playing dress up.