The future of HD according to Fortune magazine
#12
09-17-2010 | 05:12 PM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,173
Likes: 177
From: East Coast
Do you think the author of the article has even sat on a Harley, or interviewed the CEO of Harley or talked to a Harley rider. I am guessing probably not, the same thing has been written many times over by numerous experts. A few years ago the experts were predicting that the stock maket would by around 20,000 by now.
Forget about interviewing a Harley CEO...
I think he needs to interview a Harly CVO
#13
09-17-2010 | 05:14 PM
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,733
Likes: 36
From: Linden, NC
"Its current owners are getting old, and not enough younger ones are coming up behind them."
Can't convince me of that, at least not down here near Fort Bragg, NC. Young soldiers are buying them every day. Cape Fear Harley Davidson in Fayetteville won't even deal on the price of a new bike cause they sell so many. And I mean 24k+ for a new 2011 Street Glide.
And not just softails and touring bikes, VRods are everywhere. I can only assume it's that way at damn near any military post. Hell, I feel ancient when I show up at local poker/charity runs, and I'm in my early 50's (which is the new 40, or so everyone tells me).
Take articles like this with a grain of salt. The MoCo will find a way to survive.
Can't convince me of that, at least not down here near Fort Bragg, NC. Young soldiers are buying them every day. Cape Fear Harley Davidson in Fayetteville won't even deal on the price of a new bike cause they sell so many. And I mean 24k+ for a new 2011 Street Glide.
And not just softails and touring bikes, VRods are everywhere. I can only assume it's that way at damn near any military post. Hell, I feel ancient when I show up at local poker/charity runs, and I'm in my early 50's (which is the new 40, or so everyone tells me).
Take articles like this with a grain of salt. The MoCo will find a way to survive.
#16
09-17-2010 | 05:32 PM
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 13
Everybody that works at the HD plants are getting older, moving slower, so, you'll have to wait longer for your tank. :]
#20
09-17-2010 | 05:49 PM
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,882
Likes: 81
The demise of HD and most other manufacturing industries in America are because of worker unions. I work in a union shop and would vote it out in the blink of an eye should that be offered before us.
I'm basically making the same hourly rate now in 2010 that i was making in 1991. I'm ok with that and feel i make a good living but i don't make anywhere near a HD employee or car manufacturing employee in this country makes.
I live in what i call Harley country. 9 out of 10 bikes passed are Harley Davidsons. Granted i love my bike but there are far superior machines available to buy for us all. There isn't a Harley out there that can match a BMW or Gold Wing for touring and none of the other classes with the exception of the VROD can out run anything.
My point is that union employee's always want more. More then they are probably worth on a dollar per hour, benefits scale. No blame here just saying. In business if you are not the best you will not be in business for long. Harley makes a great bike but it doesn't give a buyer the best bang for the buck buyer wise compared to all offerings.
HD makes alot of money off of its name and all the shiny accessories they license. Not many other bikes makes require upgrades or accessories as they are great out of the box. Metric bike and car makers are non union shops who pay nearly as well if not better then HD pays its employee's offering a superior product.
From a buyer perspective HD is really not at the top of the charts when it comes to choosing. Very few people between the age of 20 and 40 could care less about a Harley Davidson as they are after speed and performance. With the exception of my brother in law who rides a sporty none of my other friends ride a HD.
Harley Davidson needs to be better then its competition in every way. I don't want them to loose the nostalgic bikes that we all love but i do want them to offer bikes that can compete against a BMW or a Goldwing out of the box. You know a bike that doesn't need any upgrades to be a perfect ride?
I'm basically making the same hourly rate now in 2010 that i was making in 1991. I'm ok with that and feel i make a good living but i don't make anywhere near a HD employee or car manufacturing employee in this country makes.
I live in what i call Harley country. 9 out of 10 bikes passed are Harley Davidsons. Granted i love my bike but there are far superior machines available to buy for us all. There isn't a Harley out there that can match a BMW or Gold Wing for touring and none of the other classes with the exception of the VROD can out run anything.
My point is that union employee's always want more. More then they are probably worth on a dollar per hour, benefits scale. No blame here just saying. In business if you are not the best you will not be in business for long. Harley makes a great bike but it doesn't give a buyer the best bang for the buck buyer wise compared to all offerings.
HD makes alot of money off of its name and all the shiny accessories they license. Not many other bikes makes require upgrades or accessories as they are great out of the box. Metric bike and car makers are non union shops who pay nearly as well if not better then HD pays its employee's offering a superior product.
From a buyer perspective HD is really not at the top of the charts when it comes to choosing. Very few people between the age of 20 and 40 could care less about a Harley Davidson as they are after speed and performance. With the exception of my brother in law who rides a sporty none of my other friends ride a HD.
Harley Davidson needs to be better then its competition in every way. I don't want them to loose the nostalgic bikes that we all love but i do want them to offer bikes that can compete against a BMW or a Goldwing out of the box. You know a bike that doesn't need any upgrades to be a perfect ride?