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This whole Buell thing has me pissed off. And I don't even own one.
Well I tell you why. HD just reported recently reported a 84.1% decline in net income and a 84.5% decline in deluted earnings per share compared to last year. Read it, its on their website under news. Well there is a pretty good reason why. All prices metioned are close estimates.
Softail Custom compared to Yamaha Star Raider
21x2.15 wheel, Raider has 21x3.5 which is better handling. 1200$ aftermarket increase. (harley doesn't even offer)
Raked Tripple Trees, a 450$ increase for harley - stock on raider.
Harely has a 110" engine, roughly a 4500$ or more increase. 113" stock on Raider.
Harley has dunlop tires. Raider has Metzler (ask anyone which is better) also a 300 - 350 dollar increase.
base price Star Raider is 14,790$
base price Harley Softail Custom is 16,999$
estimated cost to make harley have the same stuff as yamaha
about 6,000$ to 8,000$ depending on labor cost of installation.
But I love american made stuff which is why I buy Harley. We as customers take care of their asses by forking over big money on their products so why the hell can't they take care of our asses by giving us what we want the first time around. We, as enthusiast and lovers of harley, need to get together to somehow let the over educated idiots that are ruining this beloved company know what WE want instead of them telling us what they think we want before they end up again like the AMF years. BTW im 34 yrs old and grew up believing in heretage, value, dependability and a long lasting products. Somebody at corporate ought to start looking at the past and combine that with the new way of thinking from the next generation of buyers and builders and end up with a better solution than what they have or "The New American Motorcycle" "Victory" might change their slogan to "Victory - The Only American Motorcycle".
Thanks to who ever may care.
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It's a free country, nothing stopping you from buying a Yamaha, Victory or whatever floats your boat. Personally, I believe I have received value with my "more expensive" Harley and have no desire to go back to a metric.
This subject has been beat to death around here - HD's profits may be down but they still are making money. They aren't going anywhere. They are making changes to the business that will allow them to continue making money on lower volumes resulting from the slower economy.
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"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others." A.R.
I'm tired of hearing people complain about this. I myself don't care what the other manufactures offer or how my bike doesn't have certain things. The only thing I did to my bike was put a set of pipes on. The economy sucks, just go out and ride.
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2009 Sportster 1200C
1998 Camaro SS
Ummm in the worst economy since the depression what did you anticipate would happen to a company that primarily manufactures over priced toys? Considiring they're still making a profit and 2 out of the 3 American auto companies have gone bankrupt, Harley's doing as well or better than can be expected. They'll survive.
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'08 Heritage Softail 105th anniversary
'06 Road King
There are those that think HD is a big rip-off or that think they are getting raped everytime they walk into a dealer ship,yet still ride HD bikes. Sell it to someone who cares, I dare you.
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Age is mind over matter, if you dont mind it dont matter.
And over and over and over and over and .........
My dad taught me, when you are shopping for something:
1) Do your homework and find what you want.
2) Negotiate the best deal you can, one that makes you and the seller happy.
3) After the deal, quit shopping! If not, you will always be bitchin' you coulda got something better.
I don't give a ratz azz what other bike companies are doing or selling for, I've ridden HD for thirty five years, ain't changin' so no sense in lookin'. If you find something out there you feel is better for you, by all means go get it, the rest of us don't care ........... I've found I benefit far more by spending my time studying the motorcycles I have, learning how to maintain them, make them perform, things like that instead of trying to figure out if I made the right decision on the ones I own.
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"It's not about the destination, it's the journey that matters"
Yeah ..... <sheepish grin> ..... sometimes I make sense, at least in my own head.
Probably should have added, HD might be in a slump because all the wannabes that got hit financially don't wannabe no mo', so the market is full of late model, low mileage, chrome loaded bikes for sale at much better deals than a person can buy new for ????
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"It's not about the destination, it's the journey that matters"
Wonder why harley is slumping?
'02 Ultra & '96 1200 Custom Sportster.
2005 Electra Glide Standard
