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CVO Social => In The News => Topic started by: muddypaws on September 28, 2019, 07:32:02 AM

Title: Harley Future
Post by: muddypaws on September 28, 2019, 07:32:02 AM
More news for Harley future
https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/09/27/just-how-bad-will-harley-davidsons-third-quarter-b.aspx
Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: JCZ on September 28, 2019, 08:52:47 AM
Harley has been focused on stockholders and not it's customer base for several decades.  Nothing happening here that I'm surprised about.

Harley style and technology advancement has been stagnet for a few years, the paint schemes just haven't been saying anything.
The MoCo hasn't been listening to it's customer base and it appears they've run in to a wall.  My 2013 CVO Ultra Classic is paid for and it runs just fine.  Left Sacramento yesterday, in Ely, Nev. today and in Grand Junction, Colo. by tomorrow.......no reason to look at a new bike.  Just nothing exciting coming out of the MoCo.

The new BMW B model and the Grand America model are both very, very promising.  I've taken both for extended test rides in the Sturgis/Black Hills area and technology wise are light years ahead of HD and these two new models of BMW are not hard to look at.
Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: TN on September 28, 2019, 09:04:50 AM
Wandell was the first CEO HD brought in from the outside. He had a specific set of skills geared toward the stockholders. Harley’s problems didn’t happen overnight and they won’t be fixed overnight. I do like my current ride but I have some blood, sweat and tears in it too.

I’ve been wrong before  :drink:

I visited the local dealer to check out the Livewire, they're not an authorized dealer, closest is Jaxsonville FL for me.
Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: scottt on September 28, 2019, 11:11:01 AM
Harley has been focused on stockholders and not it's customer base for several decades.  Nothing happening here that I'm surprised about.

Harley style and technology advancement has been stagnet for a few years, the paint schemes just haven't been saying anything.
The MoCo hasn't been listening to it's customer base and it appears they've run in to a wall.  My 2013 CVO Ultra Classic is paid for and it runs just fine.  Left Sacramento yesterday, in Ely, Nev. today and in Grand Junction, Colo. by tomorrow.......no reason to look at a new bike.  Just nothing exciting coming out of the MoCo.

The new BMW B model and the Grand America model are both very, very promising.  I've taken both for extended test rides in the Sturgis/Black Hills area and technology wise are light years ahead of HD and these two new models of BMW are not hard to look at.
Your right. 28 year Harley rider, i bought a BMW K1600B, amazing bike. Love the power produced by the straight 6cyl.

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Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: iski on September 29, 2019, 03:13:19 PM
If Harley continues in the direction they are now going, they are a prime candidate for a buyout. 
Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: scottt on September 29, 2019, 03:55:37 PM
If Harley continues in the direction they are now going, they are a prime candidate for a buyout.
Hope your wrong. Didn't work out the last time with AMF. My hope is for Harley to return to a privately held company. No stockholders to make happy. Reduce production too.

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Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: iski on September 29, 2019, 04:05:57 PM
Hope your wrong. Didn't work out the last time with AMF. My hope is for Harley to return to a privately held company. No stockholders to make happy. Reduce production too.

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If profitability is high that is a possibility.  If sales continue to drop - no reason to think they won't at this point - major stockholders will be looking for an out.  Buyout would be an easy way for them to cash out.
Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: J.D. on September 29, 2019, 04:31:08 PM
Once they decided to go public all this was inevitable.
Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: scottt on September 29, 2019, 07:13:09 PM
Once they decided to go public all this was inevitable.
When your a publicly traded company your number one responsibility is the shareholders. They tend to demand fast returns on investment. Forces the company to look for quick profits.

Harley would be a better company if privately held. They could downsize to meet actual demand rather than forcing sales with big rebates. Focus on quality, competitive motorcycles.

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Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: mark on September 30, 2019, 09:50:47 PM
When your a publicly traded company your number one responsibility is the shareholders. They tend to demand fast returns on investment. Forces the company to look for quick profits.

Harley would be a better company if privately held. They could downsize to meet actual demand rather than forcing sales with big rebates. Focus on quality, competitive motorcycles.

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I agree...going private would remove the pressure from the stockholders.  However, if the buyout folks are looking to make a quick buck, that could be bad for the MoCo too.
Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: scottt on October 01, 2019, 07:29:37 AM
I agree...going private would remove the pressure from the stockholders.  However, if the buyout folks are looking to make a quick buck, that could be bad for the MoCo too.
Your absolutely correct. Then there's the dealers that built zillion dollar dealerships, based on a projection of selling a high volume of bikes with big profit margins.

If there strategy is not successful dealers will go under quickly. Let's hope the MoCo pulls it off.

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Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: Threephase on October 01, 2019, 08:34:39 AM
Does Warren Buffett ride a Harley? He could turn things around.
Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: TN on October 01, 2019, 09:08:37 AM
Does Warren Buffett ride a Harley? He could turn things around.

I don't keep up with it now but Buffett has investment in eaglemark bank, HD's financial side.

need to get some of our role models riding Harleys and the sheep will flock to them, maybe

I guess that ship has sailed too  :drink:
Title: Re: Harley Future
Post by: scottt on October 01, 2019, 10:29:21 AM
I don't keep up with it now but Buffett has investment in eaglemark bank, HD's financial side.

need to get some of our role models riding Harleys and the sheep will flock to them, maybe

I guess that ship has sailed too  :drink:
Remember when the movie Terminator or T2 came out? Dealers could not keep fat boys in stock. Everyone wanted to dress like and ride like Arnold, be a Terminator!

The number one group that effects Harley sales are the 1% clubs. The fact that they ride Harley's has a huge positive effect on Harley sales. In my opinion, Harley would be history if not for these clubs/riders.

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