Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[flhse]

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/24/pr-newswire-harley-davidson-announces-second-quarter-results.html

Just had a chance to read the 2nd Qtr results, interesting:

Strategy to Build Riders Globally
On July 30th, Harley-Davidson will share plans to accelerate its strategy to build the next generation of riders globally. Leveraging core strengths in the business, brand and dealer network, the company intends to invest in opportunities that inspire increased ridership sooner and deliver sustainable growth for the future. Harley-Davidson's strategy supports the company's 2027 objectives to: build 2 million new riders in the U.S., grow its international business to 50 percent of annual volume, launch 100 new high impact motorcycles and do so profitably and sustainably.

Harley-Davidson's accelerated strategy will deliver:

New products –Keep current riders engaged and inspire a new generation of Harley-Davidson riders
Broader access – Meet customers where they are and how they want to engage with a multi-channel retail experience
Stronger dealers – Drive a performance framework to improve our dealer financial strength and the Harley-Davidson customer experience

[Ironhorse]

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/24/pr-newswire-harley-davidson-announces-second-quarter-results.html

Just had a chance to read the 2nd Qtr results, interesting:

Strategy to Build Riders Globally
On July 30th, Harley-Davidson will share plans to accelerate its strategy to build the next generation of riders globally. Leveraging core strengths in the business, brand and dealer network, the company intends to invest in opportunities that inspire increased ridership sooner and deliver sustainable growth for the future. Harley-Davidson's strategy supports the company's 2027 objectives to: build 2 million new riders in the U.S., grow its international business to 50 percent of annual volume, launch 100 new high impact motorcycles and do so profitably and sustainably.

Harley-Davidson's accelerated strategy will deliver:

New products –Keep current riders engaged and inspire a new generation of Harley-Davidson riders
Broader access – Meet customers where they are and how they want to engage with a multi-channel retail experience
Stronger dealers – Drive a performance framework to improve our dealer financial strength and the Harley-Davidson customer experience

What does that mean?

[Twolanerider]

What does that mean?

You know what that means Mark.  Take a Sportster, bump it in to a robot on the assembly line and accidentally raise the angle of the front fender, call it the Sportster Aero !   Voila, one new model.

[flhse]

You know what that means Mark.  Take a Sportster, bump it in to a robot on the assembly line and accidentally raise the angle of the front fender, call it the Sportster Aero !   Voila, one new model.

I think you have been talking to the pool boy again, yup......   

[Fired00d]

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/24/pr-newswire-harley-davidson-announces-second-quarter-results.html

Just had a chance to read the 2nd Qtr results, interesting:

Strategy to Build Riders Globally
On July 30th, Harley-Davidson will share plans to accelerate its strategy to build the next generation of riders globally. Leveraging core strengths in the business, brand and dealer network, the company intends to invest in opportunities that inspire increased ridership sooner and deliver sustainable growth for the future. Harley-Davidson's strategy supports the company's 2027 objectives to: build 2 million new riders in the U.S., grow its international business to 50 percent of annual volume, launch 100 new high impact motorcycles and do so profitably and sustainably.

Harley-Davidson's accelerated strategy will deliver:

New products –Keep current riders engaged and inspire a new generation of Harley-Davidson riders
Broader access – Meet customers where they are and how they want to engage with a multi-channel retail experience
Stronger dealers – Drive a performance framework to improve our dealer financial strength and the Harley-Davidson customer experience

This is a joke, right??? Seriously they can't really believe they can get 2 million more riders when their sales are currently declining.

They better get something stronger than the "Kool-Aid" they have been using to achieve that goal.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[iski]

That article reminds me of something......

A better strategy for HD would be to endeavor to persevere. Also, if they are at any event, they should write an article afterwards saying that a good time was had by all and that the experiences proved to be mutually beneficial.  Of course diversification among HD's consolidated brand strengths will lead to better synergies that will expand exponentially to capture a more favorably positioned market share of the targeted riding audience with compounded integrated partnerships.   Leading the way to the new and better corporate structured consumer experience by innovation and responsiveness to the ever changing dynamics of the marketplace, with eyes set to the knowledge of the future , ears listening to the wisdom of the past, and a firm hand on the tiller of a strategically challenging course.


Or in other words, succinctly -  $5 word salad corporate BS.

[ultrarider123]

That article reminds me of something......

A better strategy for HD would be to endeavor to persevere. Also, if they are at any event, they should write an article afterwards saying that a good time was had by all and that the experiences proved to be mutually beneficial.  Of course diversification among HD's consolidated brand strengths will lead to better synergies that will expand exponentially to capture a more favorably positioned market share of the targeted riding audience with compounded integrated partnerships.   Leading the way to the new and better corporate structured consumer experience by innovation and responsiveness to the ever changing dynamics of the marketplace, with eyes set to the knowledge of the future , ears listening to the wisdom of the past, and a firm hand on the tiller of a strategically challenging course.


Or in other words, succinctly -  $5 word salad corporate BS.

If you were speaking this, I'd be able to quote Mr. Taggart and say "Mr. Iski, you use your mouth purdier than a $20 whore" 

[grc]

They still don't understand that BS plus hanging out on social media with the kiddies doesn't fix the real issues.  Their products are over-priced and lower quality when compared to the competition.  Boomers gave them a free pass on those issues, the younger generations haven't shown the same tendency.  I notice in their corporate BS announcement they mention everything except fixing all the quality and reliability issues.  They obviously still don't get it.  Perhaps the Chinese will give them a free pass on those issues, at least for a short time.

Jerry

[DesertHOG]

If HD wants to compete globally then need a fuel efficient bike or a fuel alternative (perhaps). It's hard to beat a 90cc or 125cc engine for fuel efficiency.

[Para Bellum]

The bad news is always buried in the middle of the announcement.  Here it is:  "U.S. retail sales were down 6.4 percent. Worldwide retail sales decreased 3.6 percent."

How they glossed over the bad: "Our results in the second quarter reflect business performance that is in line with our expectations."

The end result:  HD says they have multiple ways they're going to make everything beautiful again, using the brand name and the dealer network (good f'n luck there!) to create millions of new riders (who are going to spend huge piles of cash they don't have, on machines they don't want).

Talk about rose-colored glasses.   

[iski]

If you were speaking this, I'd be able to quote Mr. Taggart and say "Mr. Iski, you use your mouth purdier than a $20 whore"

 

Hedley Lamarr: My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.

Taggart: Gosh darnit, Mr. Lamarr, you use your tongue prettier than a twenty dollar whore.


Mongo only pawn in game of life.

[mark]

Before I retired, every year my employer would come up with some new B.S. and require each region, division, etc, to come up with next year's strategic goals, field management plan, blah, blah, blah.  Basically, managers would get their best word-smiths to write some non-specific, vague - but eloquent, report like what HD just released. 

The thought was to dazzle 'em with catchy words and phrases, sound like you had a "new" plan, and no one would be the wiser that you intended to do the samething as you did the previous year.

[iski]

Before I retired, every year my employer would come up with some new B.S. and require each region, division, etc, to come up with next year's strategic goals, field management plan, blah, blah, blah.  Basically, managers would get their best word-smiths to write some non-specific, vague - but eloquent, report like what HD just released. 

The thought was to dazzle 'em with catchy words and phrases, sound like you had a "new" plan, and no one would be the wiser that you intended to do the samething as you did the previous year.

Yeah, I wrote stuff like that for more than one company I used to work for. Mission statements, "company vision",  "our pledge to our customers".  Got a kick out of it sometimes, if I could make it meaningless enough and still get it approved.  The dumber    stupider   most useless   idiot managers were the best, because they seemed to really like that stuff.  Towards the end of my career was less funny to me, because the younger mgrs. tended to believe it.  In years past a seasoned guy would call your bluff on utter BS word salad.

Harley answers to stockholders, and collectively they are treated as useful idiots (for years) apparently by HD's wordage.  As customers, we live it far too often.

[RoadTrip]

Reminds me of a business review that I was asked to prepare once for my boss, who was presenting to the new president of the company. We went through several revisions in the weeks preceding with one final change the night prior. On the day of, I held all printed copies until the meeting with the president. Once everyone was seated in the room, I walked around the table to hand-out the presentation. We were big on mission statements and tag lines which are intended to summarize our strategy for the year, almost to a point of arrogance sometimes.

So on my boss' copy, I had altered the tag line to read something to the effect of, "In 19xx, we will suck less!!" Needless to say, he about crapped his pants. We had a good laugh afterwards, but he did insist that I NEVER do that to him again.

Back to the H-D earnings release. For those counting, this is the 16th consecutive quarter of declines in heavy motorcycle sales. Even Indian Motorcycle is starting to see it hit their sales volumes. We need to do a better job of recruiting our children and grandchildren into motorcycling!

[ultrarider123]

Reminds me of a business review that I was asked to prepare once for my boss, who was presenting to the new president of the company. We went through several revisions in the weeks preceding with one final change the night prior. On the day of, I held all printed copies until the meeting with the president. Once everyone was seated in the room, I walked around the table to hand-out the presentation. We were big on mission statements and tag lines which are intended to summarize our strategy for the year, almost to a point of arrogance sometimes.

So on my boss' copy, I had altered the tag line to read something to the effect of, "In 19xx, we will suck less!!" Needless to say, he about crapped his pants. We had a good laugh afterwards, but he did insist that I NEVER do that to him again.

Back to the H-D earnings release. For those counting, this is the 16th consecutive quarter of declines in heavy motorcycle sales. Even Indian Motorcycle is starting to see it hit their sales volumes. We need to do a better job of recruiting our children and grandchildren into motorcycling!

I'm working on that with the grandkids....got one that's ready to head to California after his first ride with his papaw...he loves it....

[G 97]

It’s a bit comical to think they can just implement a plan to accelerate their strategy.  One would think they would have been exhausting all efforts to do this in the first place.   It’s like they are saying, “we were holding back a little, but now we are really going to go all in and make things happen”.   LMAO.     

I suppose this is what you get when you bring in non motorcycle riding peeps from Pontiac and Pepsi co. among others and position them into upper and middle management positions.  The Motor Company lost its way ten years ago and now they are desperately trying to spin things.  They still don’t get it and they never will with the current management team. 

You can introduce all of the new product you want but if you don’t make it at a price point that is affordable for the technology you are offering it won’t matter.  The days of HD being a life style is long over.   You can’t continue to sell on emotion alone.  You have to offer something more. 

I will say the M8 is a huge step in the right direction. 

[charles05663]

In related news:
Company Execs get huge bonus for meeting their, albeit lowered, sales goals.  The company board stated the bonuses were good for executive moral and retention along with the stirring of the creative juices needed to produce the next 100 promised new models.

On a side note, rank and file moral was at an all time low due do plant closures and shipping of jobs overseas.  In typical PR spin, HD stated many of the laid-off were looking forward the their extend paid vacations and spending time with their families.

 

[smkymtnboy]

In related news:
Company Execs get huge bonus for meeting their, albeit lowered, sales goals.  The company board stated the bonuses were good for executive moral and retention along with the stirring of the creative juices needed to produce the next 100 promised new models.

On a side note, rank and file moral was at an all time low due do plant closures and shipping of jobs overseas.  In typical PR spin,off wer HD stated many of the laid-e looking forward the their extend paid vacations and spending time with their f
amilies.
 

if,that is true think i would have thought long and hard before i released that statement. i guess they all wanted to do that!!

[mark]

It’s a bit comical to think they can just implement a plan to accelerate their strategy.  One would think they would have been exhausting all efforts to do this in the first place.   It’s like they are saying, “we were holding back a little, but now we are really going to go all in and make things happen”.   LMAO.     

I suppose this is what you get when you bring in non motorcycle riding peeps from Pontiac and Pepsi co. among others and position them into upper and middle management positions.  The Motor Company lost its way ten years ago and now they are desperately trying to spin things.  They still don’t get it and they never will with the current management team. 

You can introduce all of the new product you want but if you don’t make it at a price point that is affordable for the technology you are offering it won’t matter.  The days of HD being a life style is long over.   You can’t continue to sell on emotion alone.  You have to offer something more. 

I will say the M8 is a huge step in the right direction.

I would take a different view.  The M8 isn't going to appeal to millennials anymore than an Evo or TC.  Basically, it's the same engine that's been in play for decades.  It was created to give TC owners an excuse/reason to trade -and- a need to up the HD engine to compete with Indian (although, with the M8 problems it seems this was a stumble right out of the gate).  The M8 added four more valves and went back to a single cam - not exactly an engineering breakthrough.  The Prius generation isn't going to be impressed with the lack of technology at the HD price-point.  Add a suspension that can be adjusted from the handlebars, variable ride settings (rain, cruise, dynamic), reverse on tourers, Apple Car Play, water cooling (yes, it's time to head that way), etc.  However, if HD made these changes, they'd price themselves out of the millennial market...this would be a $50k bike in the MoCo's world.

[Ironhorse]

The M8 isn't going to appeal to millennials anymore than an Evo or TC.  Add a suspension that can be adjusted from the handlebars, variable ride settings (rain, cruise, dynamic), reverse on tourers, Apple Car Play, water cooling (yes, it's time to head that way), etc. 

Sounds like a Honda or BMW.

You're right, some millennials wouldn't go for a motorcycle even if it was self driving operated by an app on a smart phone. So we as veteran riders must focus our attention on those who love the new found freedom that comes with motorcycling, and that market is women and minorities. If we are to keep this sport alive, we can no longer afford to view new comers as LBGT, Latinos, Blacks, Asians, Non-Christians, Conservatives, or Liberals. Regardless of the fact that we all ride "Top Of The Line CVOs", we must welcome all motorcycle brands.

So "ask not what can the moco do to keep motorcycling alive, but rather what can I do for motorcycling".

Speaking for myself, I love to tour with my friends. This year we went to Yosemite National Park. Next year it's Sedona, Prescott, The Grand Canyon and The Petrified Forest. If you can make it, great. If you can bring friends even better. Check out next years ride in the EVENTS section of the forum.

And finally,...some millennials do ride. You see them now and again, their choice of bike is a 1970s era Japanese bike like a 360, or 750 that's been chopped up with a "naked gunfighter" look. You see them ridden by young men with their hair in bun, a goatee, RayBan Wayferers, and a shoulder bag. The women wear shredded jeans, and leather overcoats with half helmets and goggles. I know you've seen them and wondered about them,...their the future of keeping this alive.

[iski]

Getting millenials to ride a MC is a problem.  I see them on scooters mostly if their 2 wheel vehicle is not a bicycle.  If they are on a MC, it usually a Japanese brand or an older brand, HD included.  Not seeing any shifts in that direction to MCs, not just Harley.  Indian no doubt is having the same issues.  Why did several generations ride in increasing numbers and then??  A question for others, mostly MC sales numbers across the board show decline.

As to HD & the M8, I realize that here this is a minority opinion, but there just are not that many problems I have seen.  Stage 4, yep, but that has been addressed.  HD new bikes are the best they ever made.  My opinion.

[fastfreddy]

 if you cant dazzle them with brilliance... baffle then with bull sh!t , that's what I got out of it 

[Fired00d]

if you cant dazzle them with brilliance... baffle then with bull sh!t , that's what I got out of it 

Only ones that would be baffled by that BS is those that have never thrown their leg over the saddle and rode a bike.... oh wait... that may likely be a lot of those that are in upper management of the MoCo.

[FLSTFI Dave]

Getting millenials to ride a MC is a problem.  I see them on scooters mostly if their 2 wheel vehicle is not a bicycle.  If they are on a MC, it usually a Japanese brand or an older brand, HD included.  Not seeing any shifts in that direction to MCs, not just Harley.  Indian no doubt is having the same issues.  Why did several generations ride in increasing numbers and then??  A question for others, mostly MC sales numbers across the board show decline.

As to HD & the M8, I realize that here this is a minority opinion, but there just are not that many problems I have seen.  Stage 4, yep, but that has been addressed.  HD new bikes are the best they ever made.  My opinion.

Both my nephews Ride, even thou their dad, my brother does not.  They are 17 and 21.  Not on Harley's yet, both want one.  They are on Japanese cruisers. I also know a few mid 20 year old riders on HD's.  But as a whole most under 30 have no desire to ride.

[scottt]

The motorcycle industry has another issue they should address in my opinion.

That issue is maintenance cost. Why should it cost more to keep a bike maintained than a car? Manufacturers need to build bikes that owners can easily keep running. Build them with high quality parts. Should go at least 50,000 miles with simple oil and filter changes.

I wonder if manufacturers engineer high maintenance cost into motorcycles to support dealerships?

Today's consumers expect there purchase to perform right off the showroom floor and expect reasonable maintenance cost.

Do you agree?

Sent from my SM-J327T using Tapatalk

[iski]

Both my nephews Ride, even thou their dad, my brother does not.  They are 17 and 21.  Not on Harley's yet, both want one.  They are on Japanese cruisers. I also know a few mid 20 year old riders on HD's.  But as a whole most under 30 have no desire to ride.

That is the issue:  the desire to ride.  Both my parents were against my getting a motorcycle.  I got one anyway.  Several of my cousins got bikes after I did.  Do not know of any of my parents generation that owned a bike.  Some had ridden bikes & had not so good experiences, that was the reason none had them I suppose.

What creates a desire to ride?  Adventure?  Rebellion?  Freedom on the road?  Lifestyle?  Many others no doubt. Would suppose is different for all who choose to ride.  Know when I was in college it was because gas in my Yamaha cost much less than gas for our car, that's why it was my transportation & the wife had the car.

Try to motivate millenials to ride?  Not an easy task.

[Ironhorse]

I wonder if manufacturers engineer high maintenance cost into motorcycles to support dealerships?

My old 1978 Kawasaki KZ1000 had four carbs that needed cleaning and syncing, and two sets of points. Other than an occasional broken clutch cable it was gas, tires and oil. Today’s KZ900rs has fuel injection and electronic ignition. Now it’s only gas, tires and oil.

[DOCGSS]

It sometimes makes me laugh to myself when I read some of the post to this forum. Some posters just despise HD and all of their posts are negative and critical of all things Harley, it's products, company, and management. If one dislikes HD so much, and that is certainly your right to your opinions, why not just buy and ride another brand, I don't get it.

The reality is that the motorcycle market worldwide is down not just HD but all brands with the exception of Triumph and Indian. However, both are so small in the number of units sold that statistically it is meaningless. It is very difficult to run a company that is a niche basically recreational company. 115 years is impressive and not many companies have done it. Jobs moving to other countries, along with manufacturing, is a international reality if a company is to stay competitive and in business. Reacting to changing market realities is not unique to HD, and getting urban millennial to ride two wheeled vehicles just happens to be a difficult sell, which just may be due to the far more crowded urban conditions that make riding more risky. Along with the economic reality that personal transportation ownership may not make economic sense.

I applaud HD for trying to implement a strategy. I hope they are successful as I admire and like the brand. I have always owned multiple motorcycles and HD is almost always in my stable. Although they are certainly a different space, I remember Apple on the verge of bankruptcy in the early 2000s and Amazon did not show a profit until just several years ago. Looking at the number of motorcycle companies that have disappeared over the last 115 years, it would be a shame if one of the most iconic HD did not fare well. We all remember the troubles both HD and Triumph had in the eighties, the two most storied brands. Both thankfully are still here and Harley's success is by far the most dominant. It is not small feat to control 50% of the large displacement market much less 50% of any market. IMO

[mark]

DOCGSS, I've been hanging around this forum for quite a while and have learned a lot.  The negativity comes from CVO owners being bitten by the MoCo too many times regarding poor quality, engineering, etc.  CVOers want to love HD, but often the MoCo makes that difficult.  If anything, HD fanatics are too forgiving.  I really don't think the CVO crowd would balk at a $40k+ toy, if that toy didn't constantly have issues.  Read the Milwaukee Eight section of this forum - it's disappointing to know the company that's been building bikes since 1903 can't keep the transmission fluid out of the primary or design an oiling system.  This isn't being negative...these are true posts from the most loyal customers that spent $40k on bikes that look great...on a lift table in the service dept.

As far applauding HD on its recently released strategy, please tell me what it said?  It appeared to be flowery talk aimed at soothing institutional investors, yet lacking in specifics.  It's the same vague "strategy" that gets recycled by many companies every year. 

[Ironhorse]

As far applauding HD on its recently released strategy, please tell me what it said?  It appeared to be flowery talk aimed at soothing institutional investors, yet lacking in specifics.  It's the same vague "strategy" that gets recycled by many companies every year.

Their strategy it appears is to drop the V-Rod, (best engine) and the Dyna (best handling) and introduce the new 500 and 750. Which means their “100 new” bikes are just what the man said, a Sporty, Softail, or Glide with different bling. You have your choice of a scramble, ommlette or quiche. It’s the same eggs served a different way.

Do I really think the V-Rod and Dyna are gone forever? No, they will reappear in 15 years in another variation. But for now, to save money they are reducing the line up offerings, closing plants, and opening some overseas.

Let’s hope there are enough riders still around for them when they return.

[charles05663]

I remember when the Vrod was introduced. Long time riders were clamoring for a fully water cooled modern motor in a touring bike. They should have at least released a new modern engine in the softails etc. to gauge interest.

Look how quickly they killed Buell. Buell would be a brand that attracted younger riders.

Management is very shortsighted.

  

[Ironhorse]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em,...

https://finance.yahoo.com/m/7a7dd9d3-1707-3b9d-876d-112b642690e0/ss_harley-davidson-partners-with.html

[Para Bellum]

"The company said it would fund its plans by comprehensively cutting costs."

As if they haven't already cut bike components to the bone.   

[Ironhorse]

"The company said it would fund its plans by comprehensively cutting costs."

As if they haven't already cut bike components to the bone.   

There's lots they can do like, using Shinko tires, less refined metallurgy in parts and castings, softer and thinner brake pads and more.

[Fired00d]

There's lots they can do like, using Shinko tires, less refined metallurgy in parts and castings, softer and thinner brake pads and more.

Mark don't give them any (more) ideas.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[G 97]

It’s a bit comical to think they can just implement a plan to accelerate their strategy.  One would think they would have been exhausting all efforts to do this in the first place.   It’s like they are saying, “we were holding back a little, but now we are really going to go all in and make things happen”.   LMAO.     

I suppose this is what you get when you bring in non motorcycle riding peeps from Pontiac and Pepsi co. among others and position them into upper and middle management positions.  The Motor Company lost its way ten years ago and now they are desperately trying to spin things.  They still don’t get it and they never will with the current management team. 

You can introduce all of the new product you want but if you don’t make it at a price point that is affordable for the technology you are offering it won’t matter.  The days of HD being a life style is long over.   You can’t continue to sell on emotion alone.  You have to offer something more. 

I will say the M8 is a huge step in the right direction.

Yep