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[CVO2FIXUP]

[spook120]

Smug little asshole isn't he. HD will be around when he is long gone.

[mark]

Smug little asshole isn't he. HD will be around when he is long gone.

I would remind folks of GM, Chrysler, Sears, IBM, K-Mart, Bear Stearns, WorldCom, Enron, etc.  The list of once successful companies that later failed (or lost their status) is long.  I’m of the opinion HD is in worse shape than senior management has made public.

[spook120]

World Com and Enron were unlawful frauds. I don't think HD is perfect as it isn't, but it is not criminal.

[iski]

I watched the video at 2X speed.  It was still boring.  HD would have to make drastic changes to survive, do not see that happening.

[Eqcons]

For me it's really simple - continually upping already ridiculously high prices, while reducing spec, and producing abysmal quality is the road they've chosen to disaster.

[mark]

World Com and Enron were unlawful frauds. I don't think HD is perfect as it isn't, but it is not criminal.

They started out as legit companies and only became frauds when their financials got dicey and unethical mgmt intervened. 

[BUCKNUT GREG]

Smug little asshole isn't he. HD will be around when he is long gone.

  Settle down Fan Boy.  He lays out valid points.

[Ironhorse]

I thought it was a good piece, Fortnine does good work.

Yes HD will still be here when he, you and I are dead, but we might not recognize it if we were alive. And he’s 100% spot on when he said HD did this to themselves. Everything from the Reagen tariffs (which lead to some awesome 600 and 750cc bikes) right up to Trumps tariffs on steel ended up hurting them in the long run. Today they are less of Dealership and more of a boutique. People can’t afford a $40k bike, but they can afford a $40 shirt.

In ‘91 I bought a Heritage and sold in ‘95 for exactly what I bought it for. And I sold it to a dealership! That glut is over. Go on Cycle Trader and there are many good bikes at good prices, so why would anyone buy a new one at these prices?

Today dealerships are being bought and managed by auto mall conglomerates, folks who have little to no insight or knowledge of the market or customer. HD will survive, but it won’t be recognized as what we know. Of course our bones will be in the earth by then.

The next 5-10 years will be interesting.

[Ironhorse]

And so it begins.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/harley-plans-ship-fewer-models-133044242.html

[spook120]

About as far from a "fanboy" as possible. My main ride is a 2020 BMW GSA. I keep the 2017 CVO as mostly garage art. Goes with my T shirts but not much with my power ranger riding gear. That said, I am well aware of the short comings of HD as a company and of dealers that are less than supportive. My point being this dude who is babbling gleefully away about the company's immediate demise most likely has never ridden any form of 2 wheels except maybe a scooter. And the company will survive in one form or another.  Maybe I just was irritated that he had a attitude that reaked of self promotion and as I said smugness based on little credibility. So say what you will, my initial opinion stands.  Thanks for your reply.

[Ironhorse]

About as far from a "fanboy" as possible. My main ride is a 2020 BMW GSA. I keep the 2017 CVO as mostly garage art. Goes with my T shirts but not much with my power ranger riding gear. That said, I am well aware of the short comings of HD as a company and of dealers that are less than supportive. My point being this dude who is babbling gleefully away about the company's immediate demise most likely has never ridden any form of 2 wheels except maybe a scooter. And the company will survive in one form or another.  Maybe I just was irritated that he had a attitude that reaked of self promotion and as I said smugness based on little credibility. So say what you will, my initial opinion stands.  Thanks for your reply.

Before you judge too harshly lest you be judged as well, check out his YouTube page. While his style and delivery may not be to your liking and that's okay, he is rather knowledgeable. That is if you can put his smugness aside. Some of his bits may seem over the top and comical, but the data and information is pretty accurate. He's not as folksy and prone to product selling as "Doc Harley", nor as dry as "John Maxwell" both of whom are also pretty good. As for self promotion, that's what it's about in the foundations of capitalism.

To someone with an extensive riding history and tens of thousands of miles in the saddle like you, his site will no doubt be old hand. But he does do a pretty good job of product reviews. In his tests he'll pit leather against Cordura and test thickness and protection with a belt sander to simulate sliding down the road on your knees and shoulders. He'll shoot helmet visors and gloves with a pellet gun to actually test ballistic protection. And he backs most everything up with fairly easy to understand charts and diagrams. And his production value is pretty good, at least better than most folks who just set a camera down on a tripod and talk from a chair. He follows what I believe to be a pretty good scripted format of introduction (what is the product or question), rising action (what he plans to compare or test), climax (actual tests), falling action (post test review) and denouement (the unraveling of it all)

I don't work for him or am affiliated in any way. I don't even "follow" him. However I do find his pieces informative and entertaining. While he is not specifically Harley focused, he is motorcycle focused and covers a wide range of material.

But I could be wrong.

[spook120]

Then I stand corrected. This was my initial viewing of any of his work. I am never to old to learn from someone else. Thanks for correcting my limited perspective.

[DOCGSS]

Before you judge too harshly lest you be judged as well, check out his YouTube page. While his style and delivery may not be to your liking and that's okay, he is rather knowledgeable. That is if you can put his smugness aside. Some of his bits may seem over the top and comical, but the data and information is pretty accurate. He's not as folksy and prone to product selling as "Doc Harley", nor as dry as "John Maxwell" both of whom are also pretty good. As for self promotion, that's what it's about in the foundations of capitalism.

To someone with an extensive riding history and tens of thousands of miles in the saddle like you, his site will no doubt be old hand. But he does do a pretty good job of product reviews. In his tests he'll pit leather against Cordura and test thickness and protection with a belt sander to simulate sliding down the road on your knees and shoulders. He'll shoot helmet visors and gloves with a pellet gun to actually test ballistic protection. And he backs most everything up with fairly easy to understand charts and diagrams. And his production value is pretty good, at least better than most folks who just set a camera down on a tripod and talk from a chair. He follows what I believe to be a pretty good scripted format of introduction (what is the product or question), rising action (what he plans to compare or test), climax (actual tests), falling action (post test review) and denouement (the unraveling of it all)

I don't work for him or am affiliated in any way. I don't even "follow" him. However I do find his pieces informative and entertaining. While he is not specifically Harley focused, he is motorcycle focused and covers a wide range of material.

But I could be wrong.

I have been a long time subscriber to Fort Nine for the reasons stated in this posting. Ryan is generally very good at reviews, almost to the iunt of consumers reports style with the added sarcasm. All that being said, he has never liked HD. He had a review of the Low Rider S a few years back and concluded with much guilt, that he liked the bike. Of course there were buts. His preferred riding is offroad so some of what he says has to be framed that way. To me this is a typical critical review of HD grounded in the sentiment, "they do not produce the types of motorcycles I like. They are so not hype they don't understand today's market"

Buying a bike is not the same as buying a washing machine. It is an emotional purchase and much is tied to the image of the product and how it makes you feel. Fr me ADV Bikes are the real "posers" and 99.9% of users will never go offroad except to a groomed campground possibly. I am not knocking them, it is just not my thing, I am pointing out the hypocrisy.

Yes Harley like everyone but Toyota has issues. BMW has a far higher defect and frequency of repair record and no one seems to bash them. COVID-19 has affected HD especially when there were some bright spots, like a 6% increase in sales until the pandemic hit. I truly hope HD stays around, I love how I feel when I ride them. I know that a Duc Pangale V4 R will leave me in the dust but I don't ride that way for that experience. Motorcycling would forever be diminished in every aspect without HD. In fact IMO when one thinks of motorcycling you think of Harley first which is why the world's press is obsessed with the company. I hope the new CEO can do what it takes.

[spook120]

Well said. Totally agree.

[CVODON]

I have watched him before. He dislikes HD, makes no bones about it, but will use the HD brand to gain views. When he has anything about HD I just click the thumbsdown and turn him off. BUT he is just there to make a living and I am sure he cares not whether I like him or not.

[Ironhorse]

I have watched him before. He dislikes HD, makes no bones about it, but will use the HD brand to gain views. When he has anything about HD I just click the thumbsdown and turn him off. BUT he is just there to make a living and I am sure he cares not whether I like him or not.

True, but he's also an equal opportunity basher. He once did a spot on BMW that had me laughing as he mentioned the "techno-riders seeking bloated over engineered machines steeped in Wehrmacht traditions".

[Phreakyz]

I have been a long time subscriber to Fort Nine for the reasons stated in this posting. Ryan is generally very good at reviews, almost to the iunt of consumers reports style with the added sarcasm. All that being said, he has never liked HD. He had a review of the Low Rider S a few years back and concluded with much guilt, that he liked the bike. Of course there were buts. His preferred riding is offroad so some of what he says has to be framed that way. To me this is a typical critical review of HD grounded in the sentiment, "they do not produce the types of motorcycles I like. They are so not hype they don't understand today's market"

Buying a bike is not the same as buying a washing machine. It is an emotional purchase and much is tied to the image of the product and how it makes you feel. Fr me ADV Bikes are the real "posers" and 99.9% of users will never go offroad except to a groomed campground possibly. I am not knocking them, it is just not my thing, I am pointing out the hypocrisy.

Yes Harley like everyone but Toyota has issues. BMW has a far higher defect and frequency of repair record and no one seems to bash them. COVID-19 has affected HD especially when there were some bright spots, like a 6% increase in sales until the pandemic hit. I truly hope HD stays around, I love how I feel when I ride them. I know that a Duc Pangale V4 R will leave me in the dust but I don't ride that way for that experience. Motorcycling would forever be diminished in every aspect without HD. In fact IMO when one thinks of motorcycling you think of Harley first which is why the world's press is obsessed with the company. I hope the new CEO can do what it takes.

I wish you would post that every time someone starts a Harley Doom and Gloom thread!   Well Said!