Most of the Kansas Harley dealers sell riceburners along with their Harleys...

Prediction: H-D will eventually have to start buying major sub-assemblies from China, Japan or Korea to survive. Outsourcing the engine and transmission to one of the Aian countries will give them the biggest bang for the buck! GM, Ford and Chrysler have been importing engines and transmissions from China, Korea and Japan for years with no loss of market share as a direct result. I can hear the protests now from some of you but I'm confident that this will happen over time unless H-D simply gives up and goes out of business altogether which is highly unlikely as the fortunes of many H-D executives and shareholders would evaporate.

“Harley dealers can sell any brand they want. I was told by one of Harley’s former VPs that’s involved with us that Harley can’t limit the dealerships to just Harleys, because that would be against some free trade laws, but I’m no lawyer,” White continued.

Harley dealers may be able to legally sell any brand they want, but if Mother Harley seriously frowns on it. I have heard of them threating to hold back an allotment of bikes and nasty things like that. There was a dealer here in the North West that was a Harley/Triumph/Japanese dealer, but they moved the Triumphs and Japanese brands to a smaller building in front of the Harley store. I went to the Harley store looking for Gerbing electric gloves and I was told they don't sell them, just the Harley brand of electric gloves. When I said "you used to carry them" I was told I could try "the company that sells bikes on the other side of the parking lot" I *think* they are still owned by the same guy, just trying to segregate themselves.

Harley has relied on their marketing machine and buyer loyalty for so long, they haven't needed a starter bike in a long, long time. There is one lady I know that reallyreallyreallyreally wants a Harley. She wears the shirts and jewelry. When I had my Street Glide, she would always ask to sit on my bike. She would get a dreamy look in her eyes and say "Someday, I will have a Harley". Well, she is like 4'9" and weighs 100lbs soaking wet. I have been telling her for years it isn't what you ride, it's that you ride, get yourself a cheap Japanese starter bike and ride the hell out of it. Drop it, crash it, drop it but most of all learn how to ride and be on the road. No dice. Harley or nothing.

When I got my RoadStar, she saw it and said "What a beautiful Softtail!" I snickered and said "it's a Yamaha" and she just about fell over.

I think the Harley marketing machine is slowing at a great pace. I like Harley's a lot and I hope the company can stay nimble enough to survive.

IMO I think the Slow Redesign of the Japanese Bikes to fit into the American Market Place, Coupled with the Price Difference has cut into HD'S sales alot. They have introduced a few sub-models to the dyna line and there was the V-Rod about 10 years ago but they are all still the same old HD base design. Some new Blood would Probably increase there sales by bringing in more People, but I'm not sure if the ATK line is the right one.

eagle_man wrote:
IMO I think the Slow Redesign of the Japanese Bikes to fit into the American Market Place, Coupled with the Price Difference has cut into HD'S sales alot. They have introduced a few sub-models to the dyna line and there was the V-Rod about 10 years ago but they are all still the same old HD base design. Some new Blood would Probably increase there sales by bringing in more People, but I'm not sure if the ATK line is the right one.
The V-Rod engine was designed by Porsche engineers!
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/26/automobiles/a-harley-takes-an-engine-from-porsche.html

The HD dealership in Modesto Calif. also owns the Yamaha dealership next door. The Yamaha dealership has recently taken on the Ducati line also. Mr Michell, the owner, is covering his bases pretty well!

They also own Stockton Honda Yamaha and the Harley dealership in Jamestown.

fireman922 wrote:
As much control as HD corporate has over their dealer network, I find it hard to believe that they would allow the dealers to market another brand of bike without their blessings. IMO HD wants to remain in the shadows as to not tarnish their "American Iron" persona, while hoping to keep their dealers alive.

"ATK Motorcycles out of Centerville, Utah, a co-member of the United States Motorcycle Manufacturers Association along with Harley-Davidson, recently signed a multi-year contract with S&T Motors of Korea to bring 33,000 units to the American market..."

How many members of the "United States Motorcycle Manufacturers Association" can there be? Personally, I hope HD is here forever. I love their bikes. If you think about it, without HD we would not have our Roadies. Our bikes are targeted at the same demographics as the HD bikes and owe their styling directly to HD.

Long live HD, Yama, and all other bike manufacturers.yeah, we lose HD, who we gonna pick on ?

ironman wrote:
yeah, we lose HD, who we gonna pick on ?

Cagiva!!

fireman922 wrote:
ironman wrote:
yeah, we lose HD, who we gonna pick on ?

Cagiva!!


You're going to pick on that.