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CVO Social => In The News => Topic started by: 9 1/2 Beers on October 03, 2012, 11:13:20 AM

Title: The Hurdles at Harley-Davidson
Post by: 9 1/2 Beers on October 03, 2012, 11:13:20 AM
http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/03/autos/harley-davidson-polaris.fortune/index.html?iid=HP_River
Title: Re: The Hurdles at Harley-Davidson
Post by: paddockdrive on October 03, 2012, 01:28:26 PM
Great and true article.  Just hope MOCO is listening!
Title: Re: The Hurdles at Harley-Davidson
Post by: ultrarider123 on October 03, 2012, 02:11:10 PM
Thanks for the article 110Mofo and...

Great and true article.  Just hope MOCO is listening!

X2

However, I don't think they will start listening after 109 plus years.  GM didn't and look where it got them....
Title: Re: The Hurdles at Harley-Davidson
Post by: VaEagle on October 03, 2012, 02:18:46 PM
I agree good article!  :2vrolijk_21:

Title: Re: The Hurdles at Harley-Davidson
Post by: SciFiGuy on October 03, 2012, 02:34:05 PM
Interesting read, thanks for the link.

Had no idea that Polairs (Victory) had taken over Indian.
Title: Re: The Hurdles at Harley-Davidson
Post by: wideglidejoe on October 03, 2012, 04:01:53 PM
The local Polaris dealer (Tulsa, OK) has a couple of the new Polaris Indians, but they are priced higher than comparable Harley's.  I like the old Indians, and I could like the new Indians, but I don't think they'll sell too many at elevated prices.  The past couple of attempts at bringing back Indian's didn't have the capital required for the long term, but Polaris will be OK, IF they crank out the production volume at the right price.

However, the Victory line may be another story.  I'm seeing a few more Victory's on the street now.  But if you go to a rally, popular biker restaurant/bar, etc., the Victory's are still a very, very small percentage compared to Harley's.  Time will tell. 
Title: Re: The Hurdles at Harley-Davidson
Post by: paddockdrive on October 04, 2012, 05:18:30 PM
Plus resale on the victory's has yet to be encouraging!
Title: Re: The Hurdles at Harley-Davidson
Post by: faceracer on October 04, 2012, 06:07:06 PM
The local Polaris dealer (Tulsa, OK) has a couple of the new Polaris Indians, but they are priced higher than comparable Harley's.  I like the old Indians, and I could like the new Indians, but I don't think they'll sell too many at elevated prices.  The past couple of attempts at bringing back Indian's didn't have the capital required for the long term, but Polaris will be OK, IF they crank out the production volume at the right price.

However, the Victory line may be another story.  I'm seeing a few more Victory's on the street now.  But if you go to a rally, popular biker restaurant/bar, etc., the Victory's are still a very, very small percentage compared to Harley's.  Time will tell. 

I agree and the early news storys on Polaris buying the Indian brand there was much speculation that they could afford to mass produce them and offer them at a competitive price to a Harley. I mean a basic Chief would compare to what a softtail? for $38k you could buy 2 softails and have money for mods! The main reason the others who tried to bring indian back failed was they could not afford to offer a decent price. So only diehard People who really wanted a Indian bought one. Then of course the early ones just had a evo copy S&S motor so was never an indian but a Harley with big fenders in a custom frame! I know a guy who had one of the 100ci powerplus motor Indians and the crank siezed up in under a year of little ridiing. he was lucky and got it fix under warrenty just before they went under.  I think Polaris is screwing up by not making them at a low price. They would probably give harley a hard time then? I have owned Polaris quads and they are top quaility and have lead the industry in new inovation for many years!I think they could make a good indian but they need to be around $20k to be in the ball park.  Face

Title: Re: The Hurdles at Harley-Davidson
Post by: muddypaws on October 04, 2012, 07:20:25 PM
Polaris is a lot newer company then HD and I see a lot of their bikes. If they practice good customer service something that HD has no idea how to do Polaris will continue to grow.
Title: Re: The Hurdles at Harley-Davidson
Post by: Mr. Warlock on October 08, 2012, 07:32:00 AM
I was at Fall Bike Week in Myrtle this weekend and you would not believe how many Victory's we saw, at least triple of what we saw in at the spring rally.