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H-D kills off more models ?
- Thread starter TK4
- Start date
or will they crush them into 2 foot cubes.
"Harley Davidson: Committed to only selling models that existed in 1945."
TK4
Well-known member
I think the Street 500/750 is a good platform (see upgraded Street Rod) but it was hobbled by poor perceived quality issues and a dealer network that didn't care. Using that powerplant in an ADV style (KLR ?) or more of a standard (Royal Enfield ?) and it would still have a chance IMO.
Yes, the 'shoe guy' seems to be a slash and burn artist, not much else.
Yes, the 'shoe guy' seems to be a slash and burn artist, not much else.
Is he a money guy too or just design? It would be nice if a company based on heritage was run by someone that cared about that, not just a bean counter. It would be hard for them to do worse. When was the last time they had a truly successful idea?
Trials
Well-known member
Young avid motorcycle designer. It would be like hiring a William Harley to design the future of H-D motorcycles.
.... or they could hire some old crustacean that use to sell tobacco products or something like that again.
I'm not an HD person, really don't get the old technology, extremely high prices and poor reliability. Do other than a diminishing number of older white people really aspire to own one of these things. Other manufacturers offer lower prices, better tech and better reliability. I don't see a path for HD to survive long term, think Pontiac, Oldsmobile etc............
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Why does it have to have a Harley badge on the motorcycle?
The Harley brand is poison to new model sales. The shrinking customer base doesn't want to buy anything else but the 5 models that have been around since the 40s. And the dealerships don't want to sell anything but those same 5 models either.
I know HD has bought other motorcycle companies before, but the mistake they made was trying to leverage their existing factory and sales floor to cross-sell to HD customers. Too expensive to build in the USA and HD customers aren't interested in buying anything new.
If they've got money to invest, then either buy or build a brand that has nothing to do with aging, white dentist pirate-wannabes. Appealing to that demographic is a losing proposition. Manufacture it in Asia. Make it cheap, reliable and performance-oriented. Race it on Sunday and sell it on Monday. Sponsor some young guns who will mod it, stunt it and show it off doing insane sh!t on TikTok, etc.
But whatever you do... don't put a Harley Davidson badge on it.
The Harley brand is poison to new model sales. The shrinking customer base doesn't want to buy anything else but the 5 models that have been around since the 40s. And the dealerships don't want to sell anything but those same 5 models either.
I know HD has bought other motorcycle companies before, but the mistake they made was trying to leverage their existing factory and sales floor to cross-sell to HD customers. Too expensive to build in the USA and HD customers aren't interested in buying anything new.
If they've got money to invest, then either buy or build a brand that has nothing to do with aging, white dentist pirate-wannabes. Appealing to that demographic is a losing proposition. Manufacture it in Asia. Make it cheap, reliable and performance-oriented. Race it on Sunday and sell it on Monday. Sponsor some young guns who will mod it, stunt it and show it off doing insane sh!t on TikTok, etc.
But whatever you do... don't put a Harley Davidson badge on it.
As long as it involves buying one of the same 2 or 3 models we've been selling for the last 30 years which have been proven cash cows for us forever. That'll never change, I'm sure. So here, buy some more of them.
I have several friends I ride with regularly who went with Indian. One puts on 50,000+ km/season (haven't checked recently but likely has well over 150,000km on the bike now) and the only thing that's gone wrong was a wonky cruise control button replaced under warranty.
bigpoppa
Well-known member
The owners are easy targets for ridicule..and it does seem fairly easy to ruffle their feathers.
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