Shut down a factory, cut back on the number of dealers to support and eliminated LOTS of unneeded positions. It was really pretty simple.
What you’re missing is the idea of creating a macho image based on a bad 1920s design for a long-stroke engine which is 45% adiabatically efficient compared to the normal 98% for Japanese bikes and at 1200 cc’s and seemingly about 10,000 lbs produces about as much power as everybody else’s 350s.
I’d guess they laid off all their highest paid employees, outsourced more production to third world countries, sold WAAAAAY more harley-davidson clothing(all made in southeast asian sweatshops via child labor), got into the credit card business, and sued a ton of people for copyright enfringements.
Yes, wake up from your slumber and join the global party of this exploding economy...Oh yeah!!
Every post here is missing the point.
Harley’s are made by unionists.
The good news is that Hussein has not mandated *electric* bikes like the announcement that Obama Motors has the Chevrolet Dolt coming out with a hefty tax subsidized by us in November.
It’s only $41,000 for a fancy golf cart. And taxpayers will be paying the federal subsidy whatever it is, heard on local radio some $8,000 bucks.
I have their stock! I haven’t paid much attention to the stock market lately so this is good news for me.
I don’t know about “cheaper” used Harleys..
The used Night Rods that I have looked at are still 16.5 to 17k down here in the Houston area..
But I guess it is all a matter of prospective..
I have two bikes, both are metric.
First one was bought just so I could get back the feeling of riding again after 35 years, found a 1980 Honda CX500 Deluxe, it also had a Vetter fairing.
This engine is similar in design to the Moto Guzzi, its called a transverse V or flying V design, its water cooled and shaft drive, at 500cc it puts out roughly 48 horsepower if its tuned up right and loves to rev way on up to 9000 RPM, kinda scared me when I had to get over 65 and saw what the tach said.
Then late last year I bought a brand new Yamaha Star 1300 Tourer, its a 1300cc V twin, also is water cooled but you have to look real close, it looks just like a Harley finned cylinders and all, not very many sunny days lately here in Alaska and its only been ridden 1200 miles so far, very smooth, about 92 hp I think, loves the mid and upper rpm range cruises nice at 65.
I was ready to buy a Harley, I work about a half mile from a Harley dealership, they wanted in house financing only, wanted a large down payment and for what I wanted the cost was at least $14,000 or more.
But Yamaha had a zero down, they were more than happy to use my credit union and so they had me sold, I almost bought the Raider but wanted a mid sized cruiser that was also touring, its big but light. And it cost me only $10,500. I am very happy, it had some minor issues such as windshield angle, handlebars and seat but I have changed it to suit my fit.
Will I buy a Harley in the future? Probably not, I may get a Victory as all I hear is how well they are built and balanced. Alaska is very much Harley country and also a lot of Goldwings.