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[ultrafxr]

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/harley-davidson-says-ceo-plans-retire-2025-04-08/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJiQ-JleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHrlQpshIw12y5qq88rv52r6bEEuwZqlpKUXP9imrT4qjrumacXRc6i3GpwFh_aem_bTjQ66mBAfLbPGOx5z9HzQ

[spence]

Now they need to find someone that loves the brand and rides or at least did ride.  Harley has really lost its way under him, Im excited for some new leadership, hopefully they make the right choice.

[ultrafxr]

Now they need to find someone that loves the brand and rides or at least did ride.  Harley has really lost its way under him, Im excited for some new leadership, hopefully they make the right choice.

Amen to that.

[pauly_2]

Yay!
When his core strategy was to focus on “high margin products” rather than quality and longevity of the brand you knew he was a short term player.

[FLSTFI Dave]

I sure hope the replacement has a passion for the Brand.  I hope the replacement understands the customer, and the brand.

Who ever it ends up being they have some challenges.  Sales are down on all motorcycles, boats, RV's and other toys. 

[RivRaptor]

They should fire him not let him retire.  I love all the deflection in the article, he didn't start the decline but he certainly helped it along.  I hope HD can find their way back, but I'm not holding my breath either.

[Ironhorse]

Not unlike operating a government, this is what happens when someone who is not at all qualified is put in charge.  Just because a person ran restaurants, sold knives, ran casinos, sold cars or whatever,.....does not mean they are the be all end all answer.

Hell, anyone of us here can point out a thousand things he should of done.  With his aging (and sadly dying off) target group, HD should have had some basic upgrades by now, like a reverse gear option.  With so many of us dealing with replaced knees, hips, shoulders, bad backs or cancer, you would think reverse on a 1,000 pound bike would be a good thing.  Virtually every other major touring bike has it, but not HD.  And if you say it costs too much, factor it in elsewhere.  Change the fancy rims to base level rims.  Go with one color paint instead of two tone paint and add reverse. 

[ultrafxr]

Update.  Board member resigns.

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/harley-davidson-board-member-resigns-cites-grave-concerns-about-company-2025-04-10/

[SIKBIRD]

Does Willie G not have any kids or grandkids?

[FLSTFI Dave]

The issue is not just Zeitz, he is just a big part of it.  This article expands on the one posted above.  https://www.advrider.com/harley-davidson-board-member-abruptly-resigns-slams-company-leadership/   Board is a big problem also.

They need to put customer and dealer first. 

[RivRaptor]

It begins, the Rats are jumping ship!  O.k. Maybe that was harsh, the guy in question seemed to be questioning the course of things and in particularly one of Z's failed programs of "under-producing relative to demand" which failed and had a large part of why I decided to not upgrade my 17'.

[RivRaptor]

https://www.advrider.com/harley-davidson-responds-to-ex-board-members-rebukes/
If you read this article take note of the other board members last and also current jobs / experience, it answers alot. 

[FLSTFI Dave]

They have some interesting backgrounds.  Can see where the woke came from. 

The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle of the two articles.  I lean more to what Mr. Dourderville claims than what the board claims.

Looking at the board I do not see much desire in motorcycles or riders.  One member probably dislikes bikers.

[Ironhorse]

Harley it seems, has been short sighted with its' vision. Their whole thinking needs to be revamped. It's almost 1980 all over again.  Harley thinks of the next quarter, the next year, the next five years. They need to think generationally.

We used to all laugh at the Japanese motorcycles, however not any more.  Japanese motorcycles and cars are the gold standard the rest of the world is held to. At one time Harley was, but not any more.  And everyone knows this. The main reason is that Japan, South Korea, and China are all thinking 30/40 and more years down the road. They are planning for it.  America wants money now, in the next quarter and and really has no sustainable plan for that. Yes, we laugh at the Chinese vehicles and tools and all that, but they are getting better.

I'm getting ready to buy motorcycle tires and NONE of them are made in the USA. And reputation only lasts so long till cost becomes the determining factor. The idea of putting the customers ahead of shareholders profits was NEVER the Harley plan. For many years HD tried to "stay current" with the Livewire but now that just looks like desperation. HD wanted to look like it was doing something for the future. In a sense HD could be compared to an oligarchy that enrichens itself instead of tending to a nation all while hiding behind actions and measures that make it look good to the cultish blind faithful but really do nothing.

I said this earlier Harley needs to think generationally 30/40 years down the road, after you I and just about everyone one on this forum is dead or no longer riding.  That's what Japan, South Korea and China are doing. They have long range plans. In the meantime bring back a dependable fully water cooled engine like a revamped V-Rod, marry it to a touring chassis, give it reverse and a height adjustable windscreen.

I may be wrong, but that's how I see it.

[FLSTFI Dave]

I do agree Harley needs to look more than 5 years ahead.  I do not believe Japanese and South Korean Motorcycle and car manufactures are looking 30/40 years ahead.  Having worked five years for a Japanese manufacture, it was 10 years ahead planning with a rough plan for 20 years.

That said there has to be flexibility in the plan.  A willingness to change the plan when its not working.  Example, Toyota just backed of it plan for 1.5 million EV's sales in 2026 to 1 million cause they aren't selling. 

Harley has failed to plan for the boomers who love Harley's to be dying off, or aging out of the market.  They didn't plan well on how to attract future generations.  Most other manufactures have inexpensive starter bikes, mid price medium bikes and then the expensive bikes.

Live Wire is a great idea.  Should have been heavily pushed in the Cities, and a much lower price point like its competitors.  Its a blast to ride. 

Local dealer refuses to sell them.  I get it, it will not fit the riding we do around here.  Typical lunch ride is 250 miles.  I can not ride it from my home to the ddealer and back with out a recharge.