Posted on 06/09/2013 9:22:54 AM PDT by TurboZamboni
MILWAUKEE—Some motorcycle enthusiasts feared Keith Wandell might be the outsider who drove Harley-Davidson into the ground. Instead, he may be remembered as the guy who kept the motorcycle maker on the road. Wandell grabbed the handlebars at the motorcycle maker in the heart of the economic crisis in 2009. Harley lost $55 million that year, as buying a motorcycle stopped being an option for many consumers.
"We had to make, quickly, some big, bold, decisions," he said in a recent interview.
Wandell was the first CEO from outside Harley, so those decisions were watched closely. Not all were well-received. He got the union's approval to use temporary workers, which enabled Harley to time its production closer to the peak bike-buying season, saving time and money. He relied less on middle-aged men in the U.S. to buy the bikes. And he focused the company on doing what many say it does best: making big, powerful, premium-priced Harleys. But that meant getting rid of some popular secondary brands.
The company made $624 million last year, the best annual profit since 2008. It also boosted profit by 30 percent in this year's first quarter, compared to the same period in 2012. With lower costs and more efficient production, analysts say Harley is in a good position to grow as the global economy improves and in better shape to weather any future downturn.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
I’ve seen those but never knew anyone who rode one. How are they?
I used to ride but one day realized that my Ducati was plotting to kill me.
When a swarm of Killer Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeez gets near us, we duck off on a side road.
I do not want to chance coming upon their gory remains around the next corner or over the next hill.
It would traumatize me ~and~ get bloody goop all over my bike.
I love riding them and being a bike rider has made me a safer driver period, because you learn to watch everything and anticipate others moves. A lot(maybe most)of the accidents with bikes are caused by car drivers not paying attention to their surroundings and not seeing the motorcycle rider.
“All the money spent over and above basic needs of food & shelter is spent foolishly by everyone. Some buy Harley’s, others buy new cars every few year, others gamble in casino’s & stock market, but the most money spent foolishly is chasing attractive women who are not reliable.”
I used to have a good friend, who drank, smoked, did a little weed, built and drove fast cars and motorcycles, and believed every few years he needed a new 18 year old chick on his arm.
I knew him through four wives. He lasted to his early 50s. My wife and I are still friends with his 2nd wife.
Well I can really wax rhapsodic about the Spyder.... I will try not to. The power plant is a water-cooled 998 cc rotex V-Twin, so she has plenty of get up and go. I have had her up to 140 with tac and throttle left.... Next comes the nifty stuff. Mine is a manual transmission which means I still have a clutch lever... they make them with semi-auto transmissions which require no clutch at all... just a little paddle shifter on the bars...An actual revers gear (sadly that takes away one forward gear which means I only got 5 forward).... Integrated anti lock brakes... all controlled by one foot lever on the right side. Traction control.. if it senses the rear wheel slip it microbrakes the trans until traction is back. Stability control so you cant tip it over if one of the front wheels leaves the ground it brakes the inside wheel to get it back down. Stock integrated control cluster including Ipod integration... you can spend a lot to get more stuff if you want. Windscreen raises and lowers , heated grips for rider and passenger. integrated saddlebags and trunk in rear. I can put a full face helmet in either bag and have space left. the rear trunk is really deep and can hold armored riding jacket and pants with rain gear and have some space left. The front between the tires isn’t just for looks... it to is additional storage space... I call it “2 cases of long necks with ice”... Handling wise its similar to a quad for steering (it has power assisted steering which is nice) It corners like its on rails and rides like a dream. It has an air ride suspension on the back that can be inflated to desired stiffness. Even loaded down for a long month long journey its a really good ride. I’ve done 1500 miles on her in less than 2 days and was still able to go dancing both nights... the seat is really supportive and comfortable on long rides. All that said the after market is just now coming out with stuff for Spyders and its pricy... unless you got 25k to drop on one don’t even look... Mine was 27k off the showroom floor. Given a choice between a trike with one wheel up front or 2 I’ll take the Spyder any day.... I have a lot more control than a standard trike and I can take the twistiest roads at speeds most “cruisers” cringe at because they would scrape their boards off.
I think what I like most about it is that the company (CAN-AM) listens to rider feed back and makes improvements on the bike every year. There are some things about the bike not to like however....all that heat generated has got to go somewhere.... they decided to vent in on the right hand side right where your foot sits on the brake.... its like a blowtorch in summer. Ive done some mods and mitigated a lot of the heat issues I’m still not done tinkering with it... but hey Im an engineer.... that’s what we do! (oh and no I dont work for Can-Am although if they are hiring...)
If you haven’t clicked on the link in #46, then DON’T.
(I’ll just have the nightmare for both of us.)
Didn't take more than a few posts for the first case of Harley Derangement Syndrome to show up.
It's like libs and Reagan. You can't even mention his name without some of them going into cranial detonation.
Sarcastically arguing exceptions and coloring your “argument” with words that weren’t used and concepts that weren’t implied, does nothing other than hide the fact that you know you’re hypocritical – to the extent of this one subject – and you don’t want to process that fact.
In a week or two there will occur what has become an annual tradition in my neighborhood: tens of thousands of people are going to show up and have a gay parade. And every year the leaders of that parade are fat, unattractive lesbians on Harleys.
I’m sure you’ve heard of them: “Dykes on Bikes.”
And every year I have two options – I can either watch the attention whores, or I can be driven out of my home by the attention whores.
What I cannot do, is pursue the freedoms of my life, in my own home.
I can’t play my piano. Or catch up on some work. Or enjoy a good book. Or watch a movie. Or sit out in the garden and have a couple beers with my friends.
I am literally being oppressed by fags, in my own home. But that’s not what the gays are telling themselves.
Nope. These stupid dykes see me and my neighbors standing around and think to themselves “Yes! More supporters!”
So…………………….how are you different?
(And I’m not saying this all from a position of “superiority” in relation to you: there are things I know I’m an asshole about.....and I know a couple different ways that I’m a complete hypocrite.)
“Now you may not like motorcycle riders frankly I couldn’t care less.”
Only you do. lol
Every-time I’ve seen one of those trikes....I’ve wanted to ride it.
It’s not the bikes...and it’s not the riders: it’s the riders who don’t care if they have bikes that are so loud as to assault the ears.
Those are the jerks.
It’s the “Your freedom to throw a punch stops at my face” situation.
Other than that, there’s nothing wrong with motorcycles.
Damn, PB.
Where’s all the vitriol coming from?
Sorry about your dyke parade problem.
We don’t have that here.
Towns court the bikers with ‘bike night events’ in order to bolster the local economy.
One of the bike nights is sponsored by the Blue Knights LEO MC who donate the proceeds to charities such as hospice.
We never never congregate for ‘pride’ crap or just to horde en masse for the sake of being obnoxious.
Our events usually only last one day or evening and the residents seem to somehow survive.
The people who come to our events are families with kids in tow who usually badger us for photos of their tykes posed on our bikes.
[eh...I let ‘em...just can’t resist that wide-eyed anticipation and the scratches buff out]
It’s like a parallel universe, isn’t it?
Had already done so.
Nice to see FReepers keep ‘snuff’ videos keyed up.
This thread amazes me.
I see people writing about things that I may find personally offensive, disgusting, stupid, wasteful and useless yet I would never dare to say the kind of crap spouted on this thread, simply because it’s none of my damn business what people want to do with/to themselves.
Sometimes there’s not a dime’s worth of difference between FR and DU.
No wonder the nanny state is winning.
the “donor” mentality is why all those who ride should specifically have a “not a donor” card.
Have seen too many er situations where families are being vultured to rush a decision to pull the plug (non-motorcycle situations) so a more profitable transplant can be done.
55k miles, two bikes, five years. (between 2003 and 2008) BTW
Wow!
You’re a true iron butt!
:D
I am going out with all the parts I came in with.
No donor card for me.
My mom and sister would snuff me in a heart beat even without the thought of donor organs.
[nice family, obviously]
I want every possible option done to save me..and then some.
Get creative, if necessary.
Yo, Shibumi...can I give *you* power of attorney?
That trumps everything, doesn’t it?
I have Cryo-Stasis prepared for you in my basement.
You’ll be right between the weapon safe and the locker with the spare Jeep and motorcycle parts.
I’m serious.
I found a medical power of attorney.
I’m sending you a completed copy.
You’re my guardian angel.
Envy is an ugly thing.
:)
My Ex B-I-L’s Stepson died a few months ago when a Car made a left turn in front of him at an intersection.
He was a (former) Marine, survived two tours in Afghanistan with an Artillery Unit, Graduated College and just started a new Job. He was only 29. He was a sharp kid. Happened in Chatsworth, CA. Big local story.
I still remember the day he Graduated from Boot Camp in San Diego. The Corps gave him direction. He was a changed man.
I rode Motocross when I was young, but never got into Street Bikes. Dirt is much more forgiving.
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