Controversial Poll
#14
02-03-2010 | 11:23 PM
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 843
Likes: 43
From: Louisiana
Wouldn't buy a foreign assembled Harley. I know it's a global economy and I've long accepted that. A huge part of Harley's success is the patriotic and nostalgic feelings associated with an American icon. Why else would we tolerate such a slow evolution of technology in our bikes and passionately defend it in many cases. Take that away and what do you have? A whole bunch of folks bailing for other brands. Kinda like paying crazy money for Stetson hat made in Guatemala. WTF would be the point?Just sayin.
#16
02-03-2010 | 11:30 PM
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,473
Likes: 14
From: River City Western Canada
Wouldn't buy a foreign assembled Harley. I know it's a global economy and I've long accepted that. A huge part of Harley's success is the patriotic and nostalgic feelings associated with an American icon. Why else would we tolerate such a slow evolution of technology in our bikes and passionately defend it in many cases. Take that away and what do you have? A whole bunch of folks bailing for other brands. Kinda like paying crazy money for Stetson hat made in Guatemala. WTF would be the point?Just sayin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTfWomXAN8o
#17
02-03-2010 | 11:38 PM
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nv
Harley Davidson has a multitude of issues that are causing it to bleed
1.The economy is in the worst recession since the depression,the financial fraud that many Americans played has come home to roost. There is no free lunch
2.The market has swung temporarily to performance bikes, same as the chopper fad, this has taken a bit chunk of potential Harley buyers out of their customer base.
3. The old Harley Riders are slowly expiring one way or the other, in their place are newer customers who came from Homda, Kawasaki,BMW etc and limit their choice to the bagger family, hence, softtails and Dynas are poor sellers
4.Refreshing new models are missing, I mean come on how frickin dark to we need to get? The designers are clearly on a path that is suited for a smaller customer base, HD in trying to force that lifestyle on it's customers to be "Cool" is the same as disco is America's music again!. Hell there isn't any music anymore, just noise.
5. The competition is slowly creeping up, while Victory still has a ways to go, I like their products and WILL buy a Jackpot in the next year or so, their technology is superior as is their performance.
6. Harley's management is lost, their last CEO was a disaster and the new one has no experience in this field, so where is the ship going to be guided??
7. Innovation, the VROD has been out now since 2003, with basically no changes, obviously HD is afraid of the EPA and rightly so, a major push of the VROD engine could spell doom for the TC. But a Bagger VROD would sell IMHO well!!! ( I wouldn't buy one though)
In short, HD is now too large to really fulfill the American reputation it had, not many companies can. Politically American, has turned it's back on manufacturing , for the cheap buck. Keep voting in Facist Socialist and see what else is coming. National noise laws, engine size limits, pollution regulations and in some cases outright banning of our sport.
To answer your question, I am disgusted enough with what Harley Davidson has become, but I still like some of their bikes and if the price is right , I would buy a new Harley, BUT if it is made offshore and Victory is not, then I would select the Victory.
BUT I believe Harley understands there would be a cost to offshore manufacturing, the real question is , how brazen is the management
1.The economy is in the worst recession since the depression,the financial fraud that many Americans played has come home to roost. There is no free lunch
2.The market has swung temporarily to performance bikes, same as the chopper fad, this has taken a bit chunk of potential Harley buyers out of their customer base.
3. The old Harley Riders are slowly expiring one way or the other, in their place are newer customers who came from Homda, Kawasaki,BMW etc and limit their choice to the bagger family, hence, softtails and Dynas are poor sellers
4.Refreshing new models are missing, I mean come on how frickin dark to we need to get? The designers are clearly on a path that is suited for a smaller customer base, HD in trying to force that lifestyle on it's customers to be "Cool" is the same as disco is America's music again!. Hell there isn't any music anymore, just noise.
5. The competition is slowly creeping up, while Victory still has a ways to go, I like their products and WILL buy a Jackpot in the next year or so, their technology is superior as is their performance.
6. Harley's management is lost, their last CEO was a disaster and the new one has no experience in this field, so where is the ship going to be guided??
7. Innovation, the VROD has been out now since 2003, with basically no changes, obviously HD is afraid of the EPA and rightly so, a major push of the VROD engine could spell doom for the TC. But a Bagger VROD would sell IMHO well!!! ( I wouldn't buy one though)
In short, HD is now too large to really fulfill the American reputation it had, not many companies can. Politically American, has turned it's back on manufacturing , for the cheap buck. Keep voting in Facist Socialist and see what else is coming. National noise laws, engine size limits, pollution regulations and in some cases outright banning of our sport.
To answer your question, I am disgusted enough with what Harley Davidson has become, but I still like some of their bikes and if the price is right , I would buy a new Harley, BUT if it is made offshore and Victory is not, then I would select the Victory.
BUT I believe Harley understands there would be a cost to offshore manufacturing, the real question is , how brazen is the management
#18
02-03-2010 | 11:44 PM
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,414
Likes: 3
From: Corporate States of America
No. I already do not buy the motor clothes because they are made in china.I will certainly not buy a bike made in communist china. The fact that Harleys are assembled in the U.S. is one of the last things the MoCo has going for it.
If they go off shore they will be done.The younger crowd already thinks Harleys are uncool. The goofy fingerless chaps and a$$less glove posers aren't helping matters ether.Sorry, it's how I feel and you did ask.
HighriderUSA- Fascist Socialist? Someone's been watching Fox news again.
If they go off shore they will be done.The younger crowd already thinks Harleys are uncool. The goofy fingerless chaps and a$$less glove posers aren't helping matters ether.Sorry, it's how I feel and you did ask.
HighriderUSA- Fascist Socialist? Someone's been watching Fox news again.
Last edited by Zig Zag 2010; 02-03-2010 at 11:54 PM.
#20
02-03-2010 | 11:49 PM
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 819
From: Northeast of Indy..
The common fix for most corporations is to outsource!
-------------------------------------------------------------------
U can also add to cut jobs in the same breath as outsourcing....usually it the first....it takes longer to get production ramped up somewhere else than it does to have a lay-off.
they would probably still assembly them here, just as U said, more parts made elsewhere..
-------------------------------------------------------------------
U can also add to cut jobs in the same breath as outsourcing....usually it the first....it takes longer to get production ramped up somewhere else than it does to have a lay-off.
they would probably still assembly them here, just as U said, more parts made elsewhere..