Hell Freezing Over!!!

[PapaUtah]

From the latest round of research on The Motor Company™, aka Harley-Davidson™…

Never bet you thought you’d hear this from Harley-Davidson™ dealers…

Harley-Davidson™ Inventories High :glare:

“We’re definitely not getting above MSRP, but we're also not way below."

“The number of bikes available has really allowed the customer to shop around for the cheapest deal.”

Harley-Davidson™ Pricing Continues To Be Weak

“With so many bikes out there now, our selling season has shrunk and prices have gone down because customers know they can wait to buy a bike."

“We try not to give away anything, obviously, but we do what we have to do to make the sale.”

Demand For Used Harley-Davidson Motorcycles™ Mixed :huh:

“The trade-in values are getting lower now, so we can sell them for cheaper and still take a good profit cut.”

“A used bike plus a warranty has to be cheaper than a new bike that comes with a warranty or else it just doesn't make sense.”

But T-shirts and Trinkets Still Doing Well :wub:

“We always do well with P&A and motorclothes, especially at the start of riding season when people want fresh gear.” (editorial - Perhaps The Motor Company™ faithful should look into buying a Maytag or Whirlpool to stay fresh all season long???)

 

[Scab]

I don't know much about business, but isn't it a bad thing when you are a MOTORCYCLE dealer and you are looking at clothing as a major source of income? I thought those types of things were supposed to be "extras" that helped the bottom line, but weren't THE bottom line.

 

[Rogue]

Once upon a time they gave the t-shirts free for advertising!

 

[sparky3008]

I don't know much about business, but isn't it a bad thing when you are a MOTORCYCLE dealer and you are looking at clothing as a major source of income? I thought those types of things were supposed to be "extras" that helped the bottom line, but weren't THE bottom line.

Looking back in history the sale of their clothing line actually helped keep Harley above water. It has always been a huge part of their business.

Profit on the bikes with wages in America probably is not as high as you would think.

Service & Clothing...

 

[PapaUtah]

I also found out what the closing headlining entertainer at the Harley-Davidson™ 100th Anniversary Celebration in Milwaukee has been up to lately. Harley-Davidson™ must know ALOT about their customer base that we don't.



Clicky...

 

[Scab]

Well, we did have our suspicions...

 

[Geezer]

A Harley TUTU? Where would they put the emblem? Nevermind, I don't want to know.

 

[sparky3008]

I also found out what the closing headlining entertainer at the Harley-Davidson™ 100th Anniversary Celebration in Milwaukee has been up to lately. Harley-Davidson™ must know ALOT about their customer base that we don't.


Clicky...

Yea, a lot of leather in that crowd :haha:

 

[PapaUtah]

And now the Police bike market is under attack...

Cops!....in Arizona

 

[Colin24]

I don't know much about business, but isn't it a bad thing when you are a MOTORCYCLE dealer and you are looking at clothing as a major source of income? I thought those types of things were supposed to be "extras" that helped the bottom line, but weren't THE bottom line.

That in a nutshell is why (as far as I am concerned) Harley is destined to fail as a motorcycle company. They sell image not content. Either the whole things gonna fold in on itself, or it will morph into a company that just sells Hardly-Abbelson "accesories" in which case it is no longer a "motorcycle" company.

Don't believe me. Look at their product line. They've been selling the same models warmed over with new paint and chrome (The HD equivilant of Bold New Graphics) for damn near fifty years. They do have the new VRod. But its been out for a couple years and all they've done to it is the BNG treatment.

....

You know, I just hamered out a great big long rant on how HD sucks on so many levels. then I deleted it. Its all been said before.

I figure just sit back and watch the company in its slow slide into irrelevance in the motorcycle world.....

- Colin

 

[sparky3008]

And now the Police bike market is under attack...
Cops!....in Arizona

Obviously many departments have the small Chevy Impala's.

My Step-Dad in Texas was talking to one of the local cops about how he like the Impala compared to some of the bigger V8 cars.

The cop said that he often has to wait for the other cars to catch up

Change is not always a bad thing but it does come slow for some.

I don't know much about business, but isn't it a bad thing when you are a MOTORCYCLE dealer and you are looking at clothing as a major source of income? I thought those types of things were supposed to be "extras" that helped the bottom line, but weren't THE bottom line.

That in a nutshell is why (as far as I am concerned) Harley is destined to fail as a motorcycle company. They sell image not content. Either the whole things gonna fold in on itself, or it will morph into a company that just sells Hardly-Abbelson "accesories" in which case it is no longer a "motorcycle" company.

Don't believe me. Look at their product line. They've been selling the same models warmed over with new paint and chrome (The HD equivilant of Bold New Graphics) for damn near fifty years. They do have the new VRod. But its been out for a couple years and all they've done to it is the BNG treatment.

....

You know, I just hamered out a great big long rant on how HD sucks on so many levels. then I deleted it. Its all been said before.

I figure just sit back and watch the company in its slow slide into irrelevance in the motorcycle world.....

- Colin

It is like one of the other members pointed out to me, look at their stock. It is over $50 a share right now.

They aren't doing too bad.

Harley has done a lot of things in Business very well. Many of their bikes are from going out and listening to what customers want and what they were doing to bikes themselves.

Harley owners don't want or need the bikes to constantly change as this is part of what they like about Harley.

When I was a kid to today when I think of Harley and go to the Shops they still are what I have always thought of as Harley.

You can't say that about almost any Jap bike.

They are what they are and there will always be those who like the look, sound, feel and everything that goes with buying a Harley... It isn't going anywhere... Oh and it isn't for everyone.

I will probably never own one simply because it only serves one portion of motorcycling for me but renting one on occasion is always a joy.

To each his own...

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

MNFJR05 Posted Today, 02:58 PMAnd now the Police bike market is under attack...

Cops!....in Arizona

And Liberty Motorsports' bid of $280K+ for 10 ST1300Ps comes to around $28K per bike -- hell, they all could be riding RUNEs for that....!!

sparky3008 Posted Today, 03:09 PM<snippage>It is like one of the other members pointed out to me, look at their stock. It is over $50 a share right now.

Harley has done a lot of things in Business very well. Many of their bikes are from going out and listening to what customers want and what they were doing to bikes themselves.

Harley owners don't want or need the bikes to constantly change as this is part of what they like about Harley.

When I was a kid to today when I think of Harley and go to the Shops they still are what I have always thought of as Harley.

You can't say that about almost any Jap bike.

They are what they are and there will always be those who like the look, sound, feel and everything that goes with buying a Harley... It isn't going anywhere...

Where do I start....?Well, true the stock market has some control over some business in America -- especially those that don't really have a product.

"They went out and listened to their customers..." -- just what I don't want -- a bike designed by Bubba....!

On the plus side -- the guys in the back room know what a V-Twin is; and, they're probably the only m/c techs in the U.S. to get union scale? And.... no TICK!

"You can't say that abo....." And, good thing too! It's called progress.....

"They aren't going anywhere" -- in more ways than one!

Yesterday, I was at a city intersection when two Ultra Fat Bob Classic 'Gliders pulled up at the red light next to me -- the vibration alone was a sight to behold....!

 

[sparky3008]

MNFJR05 Posted Today, 02:58 PMAnd now the Police bike market is under attack...

Cops!....in Arizona

And Liberty Motorsports' bid of $280K+ for 10 ST1300Ps comes to around $28K per bike -- hell, they all could be riding RUNEs for that....!!

sparky3008 Posted Today, 03:09 PM<snippage>It is like one of the other members pointed out to me, look at their stock. It is over $50 a share right now.

Harley has done a lot of things in Business very well. Many of their bikes are from going out and listening to what customers want and what they were doing to bikes themselves.

Harley owners don't want or need the bikes to constantly change as this is part of what they like about Harley.

When I was a kid to today when I think of Harley and go to the Shops they still are what I have always thought of as Harley.

You can't say that about almost any Jap bike.

They are what they are and there will always be those who like the look, sound, feel and everything that goes with buying a Harley... It isn't going anywhere...

Where do I start....?Well, true the stock market has some control over some business in America -- especially those that don't really have a product.

"They went out and listened to their customers..." -- just what I don't want -- a bike designed by Bubba....!

On the plus side -- the guys in the back room know what a V-Twin is; and, they're probably the only m/c techs in the U.S. to get union scale? And.... no TICK!

"You can't say that abo....." And, good thing too! It's called progress.....

"They aren't going anywhere" -- in more ways than one!

Yesterday, I was at a city intersection when two Ultra Fat Bob Classic 'Gliders pulled up at the red light next to me -- the vibration alone was a sight to behold....!

Your missing my point, it is what they want.

THe bikes we like need to progress as our idea of bikes need to continually handle better, stop faster, accelerate faster.

The Harley mentallity really don't want this at a sacrifice of the shape of what they call Harley.

Two completely different desires and neither market is going anywhere.

That is why they will always make fun of us and we will always make fun of them...

 

[Scab]

I understand the marketing (brilliant, BTW), I understand the nostalgia. I understand (to some degree) the Harley crowd, the desire for yesteryear, a bygone time, cycles like they used to be...

But what happens when the next generation goes to buy a bike? Or the generation after that? Is Harley going to be a motorcycles that appeals to them? They won't share the same nostalgia. They will be people raised their entire lives with cutting-edge technology at their fingertips. Is Harley doing the homework on the 'buyer-yet-to-be'? What kinds of motorcycles will our grandchildren want to ride?

Rhetorical horse-crap, sure. But somebody needs to be thinking of the answer.

 

[sparky3008]

I understand the marketing (brilliant, BTW), I understand the nostalgia. I understand (to some degree) the Harley crowd, the desire for yesteryear, a bygone time, cycles like they used to be...
But what happens when the next generation goes to buy a bike? Or the generation after that? Is Harley going to be a motorcycles that appeals to them? They won't share the same nostalgia. They will be people raised their entire lives with cutting-edge technology at their fingertips. Is Harley doing the homework on the 'buyer-yet-to-be'? What kinds of motorcycles will our grandchildren want to ride?

Rhetorical horse-crap, sure. But somebody needs to be thinking of the answer.

A 1970 Road King.

Todays 2006 Road King and many other models still look like this.

I was born in 1969. I grew up wanting a Harley for numerous reasons but none educated, just movies, sounds, looks etc.

Today my friends and others still have kids that love Harleys at an Early age and sure many will grow up to love them by many of the same influences that affected me.

 

[Scab]

Yeah, but my kids are watching crap like "The fast and the furious" and that screamin' arse skoot movie that I can't remember the name of. You know, it was more like a 'crotch-rockets gone wild' video.

 

[sparky3008]

Yeah, but my kids are watching crap like "The fast and the furious" and that screamin' arse skoot movie that I can't remember the name of. You know, it was more like a 'crotch-rockets gone wild' video.

True True it is all relative. I come across kids all the time, some love their dads Harley others love sport bikes.

I grew up listening to huge groups of 70 - 100 Harleys screaming down the road. Grew up going to field parties where everyone had Harleys. A huge percentage of my friends have Harleys and their kids love riding on the back, future Harley lovers.

The bike and lifestyle sells it self.

Now I am starting to hang around more sport bike guys/girls and it is just as strong an influence and I like it also...

 

[Scab]

And we get riding gear in color!

 

[sparky3008]

And we get riding gear in color!

Why would someone want something other than black?? :yahoo: :haha: