Alot of "bashing" on the MOCO lately, so I ask you this:
You get a call one evening at home and Willie G. is on the line. He says "the MOCO is in trouble" and he needs your help. There is a ticket waiting for you at your local airport to fly you into Milwaukee.
He wants your advice on, bikes, motors, cloths, accessories, etc. The MOCO WILL carry out your advice.
What do you tell them? Here are a few examples:
*Make all water cooled bikes, NOW.
* Bikes need more than 2 cylinders.
* Bring back the Knuckelhead, Panhead, etc
* Start copying the metrics, they have been copying the MOCO for years.
You get the idea, your the boss, what ya gona do?

BTW: ya, Im home sick with the flu and VERY board.

Doug

 

First thing I would do is fire Willie G.

 

I would have to tell them to concentate thier efforts on being a motorcycle manufacturer anddrop the clothing boutiques and cafe's.

 

Cut the price.

 

Naw, wayyyyyyyyy too much profit for MOCO in Harley gear

Me? The first thing I'd do is build the bikes bigger, not the motor, the actual bike. There are too many people over 6' tall that feel like they are riding a 250 yammie, when it comes to the size of the bike. The metrics have been getting bigger and bigger for years and it affects sales. Then I'd steal the auto makers idea and have the CVO division build a complete retro bike, a 1936 EL would be a good start

 

Make me the Vice President of Marketing, Pricing and Mysterious Strategies!

 

I'd bring back a 45" (750) bike styled like the FL/FX lines, just a little smaller and lighter. This would be the real beginner bike. Sportster lines would just be the 1200 engine.

 

I'd find a way to liquid cool the bike, and be creative about how it would reject the heat. That way, the machine would for all the world look the same as they do now, with heat exchangers in the frame tubes or something. Still have cooling fins and all, but with water jackets around the cylinders and in the heads. Maybe impossible, I don't know.
They're gonna have to do something to cool these things down, with all the EPA regulations coming down the pike.
Going to a metric style LC Vtwin will couse them to fall out of favor with loyal HD riders, unless they price them the same as metrics, and that ain't gonna happen.

The clothing/boutique thing is just giving the people what they want. Personally, I can't stand walking into a dealership anymore. I just feel like when they look at you, they're laughing up their sleeve at you, like " ahhh... here's another sucker". None of my riding gear (except my gloves) says HD on it. Overpriced with midiocre quality IMHO. And I'd quit importing it. Pisses people off.

 

My first though awhile back was that i wouldn't change anything but after reading some of the great ideas aboutdifferent CVO'sand45" FL/FX lines and 1200's and such i think there are some great ideas here. Hopefullythose guys are reading this post as well.

 

Ya, I work for the MOCO, thats why I started the thread.

Just Kidding,
Doug