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[charles05663]

I can't see to find where to make this a poll.

Willie G retired on April 30, 2012.  In recent years, in my opinion, MoCo's products seem to suffer from any creativity.  I figured Willie G's last influence was with the 2013 models and the past few years paint jobs have been quite boring and seem to be repeats.  You see it in all of their styling including the new design of their new bikes.

Being a RoadGlide fan, there are no move exciting paint jobs like the 2000 SERG triple-red, or the 2009 SERGs with their flowing lines, or the 2012 SERG with the ghost flames.  The 2015 & 2016 SERG looks like a 2012 SERG warmed over with a tour pack.  The 2010 Street Glide spiced rum was a standout too.

Does anybody else see this?

 

P.S. -- The pool boy was busy cleaning the pool and did not participate

[skippy]

o yes i am with u the non cvo paint colors are hideous  IMHO  and no small cvo bikes....

[JCZ]

Paint schemes have run hot and cold with the MoCo for many years and long before Willie G was gone.  But then it's all just a matter of opinion.

The 2000 SERG was OK but nothing like the 04/05 SEEGs then they went all the way to 09 SERG.  They had hit and miss for years before he was gone and we're just talking about the CVOs.  If you want to go back to the standard models......it would take pages.


By the way, you can add a poll to a thread that you started any time.  Look down at the lower right of this page where it says "Add a Poll". 

[grc]

IMHO Willy G. stayed long past the time to quit, and the products suffered for it.  Don't forget, he was a style first and function last kind of guy.  Of course if all you care about is how your bike looks, and don't care how it runs or handles or rides, then he was great. 

Jerry

[iski]

Last few years not sure he was influencing that much.  He did have an affinity for skulls without a lower jaw.  Many tshirts & articles of clothing & shiny doo dads are adorned with his skull.  Early on would suppose he had a lot more influence.  The HD design team has been a group effort by committee for some time now, & the designs this year look like they were done by a committee.

[charles05663]

It just seems to me that the MoCo is on auto pilot trying to milk what they have been doing for years.  Other than the Rushed-More project not much has changed.  The only change that I know and is guaranteed is price increases and lowered quality.

With Indian starting to make progress I would hope to see change.

 

[Chains]

Willie G was famous for traveling around to all the bike shows and incorporating what he liked into his designs.  Not everything he did was born in his head, a lot of it was taken from from the public some good, some not so good for functionality.

[charles05663]

Willie G was famous for traveling around to all the bike shows and incorporating what he liked into his designs.  Not everything he did was born in his head, a lot of it was taken from from the public some good, some not so good for functionality.

The multi-part PBS television program “Triumph of the Nerds: The Rise of Accidental Empires” premiered in 1996. During the program Steve Jobs again mentioned the saying that he attributed to Pablo Picasso. Here is a transcript excerpt:

    Ultimately it comes down to taste. It comes down to trying to expose yourself to the best things that humans have done and then try to bring those things in to what you’re doing. I mean Picasso had a saying he said good artists copy great artists steal. And we have always been shameless about stealing great ideas.*

*Shamelessly stolen from Quote Investigator 

I wish MoCo would steal some more great ideas and move forward with their designs.  And I agree that they value functionality.

 

[Para Bellum]

It might have a lot to do with the old CEO, Wandell.  When he decided to retire, he probably wanted to stick with what he thought had been working, rather than push for a new direction.  That would leave it up to the new CEO, Levatich, to start MoCo down a new style/color/function pathway.

[Jeff G]

Just would like to throw my 2cents in. Now that somebody brought it up about the skulls Willie G made, what is the deal with skulls and Harley's anyways? You can't help but see it on bikes all the time, with skulls painted all over it, and you see guys riding with what looks like a "skull bandanna" covering there face. Whats the deal with that.

[Lone Rider]

It might have a lot to do with the old CEO, Wandell.  When he decided to retire, he probably wanted to stick with what he thought had been working, rather than push for a new direction. 

They have an engineering design team so I'd be looking there first

[fastfreddy]

Just would like to throw my 2cents in. Now that somebody brought it up about the skulls Willie G made, what is the deal with skulls and Harley's anyways? You can't help but see it on bikes all the time, with skulls painted all over it, and you see guys riding with what looks like a "skull bandanna" covering there face. Whats the deal with that.

there for good luck or something like that 

[Sea Biscuit]

Just would like to throw my 2cents in. Now that somebody brought it up about the skulls Willie G made, what is the deal with skulls and Harley's anyways? You can't help but see it on bikes all the time, with skulls painted all over it, and you see guys riding with what looks like a "skull bandanna" covering there face. Whats the deal with that.

Many reasons but here is one explanation:

https://www.throttlexbatteries.com/details.aspx?p=A4D3D61DCEB3C859&ppid=59924&beid=BBEE9D265FD405D3

[Para Bellum]

They have an engineering design team so I'd be looking there first

The CEO might be able to overrule them, and it's become obvious the bean-counters are driving many of the decisions.  Also, the CEO's bonus depends in part on the stock price, and the more money HD makes, the higher the stock price.

[Sea Biscuit]

Many reasons but here is one explanation:

https://www.throttlexbatteries.com/details.aspx?p=A4D3D61DCEB3C859&ppid=59924&beid=BBEE9D265FD405D3

One more explanation:

http://artworkbyjohanna.com/skulls-in-biker-culture/