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[hunter]

From Briefing.com at 7:16 est:

HOG Harley-Davidson to acquire MV Agusta Group for approx $109 mln  

 Co announces the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase the Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta Group. Under the agreement, HOG will acquire 100% of MV Agusta Group shares for total consideration of approx $109 mln, which includes the satisfaction of existing bank debt for approx $70 mln. MV Agusta Group has two families of motorcycles: a line of exclusive, premium, high-performance sport motorcycles sold under the MV Agusta brand; and a line of lightweight motorcycles sold under the Cagiva brand. The company sells its products through about 500 dealers worldwide, the vast majority of them in Europe. 

I guess a replacement for V-Rod.  They nice bikes for the money (until Mo Co gets hold of it).

[FastFreddie]

Let's not be too quick here to be critical. Remember basically Harley is buying back what AMF sold off from HD in 1978 what they had acquired in 1960. They still use the same factory as I understand that HD built to build MVAgusta's and Cagiva's. This is the old Aermacchi company. HD set 250cc land speed records with George Roeder in Sprint powered streamliner. Was making strong showing in MX in late 80's with 250cc bike. Actually was the horsepower king then. They also set several World GP championships in late 70's in 250 and 350 class. Also lets not condemn Vrod either it is nice bike also, the Street Rod version would have done much better in different market than traditional Harley market with dealers and salesmen all sticking with traditional cruiser/touring buyers who are easier to sell to than venture into difficult arena with other motorcycles in the market. The same goes for Buell they have excellent products but tough sell to break out of traditional Harley mold.

[Spike]

Harley had been rumored for the longest time about buying Ducati. I guess if you can't buy one Italian firm then buy another. MV makes a great product no doubt about it. I just don't want a bike that I have to wait 6 months for a part if I need one. In addition, MV has built the world's fastest production bike and sells it for I believe $160,000 so that would make it the newest most expensive screamin eagle on the market.....

[RioGlide]

Also lets not condemn Vrod either it is nice bike also, the Street Rod version would have done much better in different market than traditional Harley market with dealers and salesmen all sticking with traditional cruiser/touring buyers who are easier to sell to than venture into difficult arena with other motorcycles in the market. The same goes for Buell they have excellent products but tough sell to break out of traditional Harley mold.

I've heard many a "salesman" dismiss V-rod's out of hand, sometimes worse.  Maybe these guys had so many 883 sales lined up they couldn't be bothered with a water cooled plant.  Whatever.  I chose both old / new because I like em both.  I guess I can't understand how a "salesman" would talk his way out of a possible deal like that....I think the V-rod has suffered in many ways from poor sales training in the stores.

Personally, I don't get Buells, I wouldn't buy one.  But I respect the innovation and different thinking they've got on that side.  And I think HD dealers all make a huge mistake by not displaying them on their sales floor.  Or if they do show Buell, there's one.  Waaay in the back.

I'd love to see Cagivas in the stores, too, at least a sample of each model.  And maybe Buells could grow on me if I saw more of them.  I think the dealers themselves have just chosen the "safe" route by keeping V-rods and Buells off the floor.  In the US at least - Warr's HD in London had the full model line on the floor last time I was there.  In fact, they had one sale in the 45 minutes or so I was there buying overpriced T-shirts -- it was a Buell.

OK rant done now.   

[sportygordy]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Jul/080711b.htm

[TN]

i think this acquisition is to increase the european market share for hd. with outsourcing of all the companies it's starting to chip away at our economy. there used to be job security within certain fields,  that's why i choose to work for myself.

patrick, i rode a buell when first introduced and liked it. no i didn't buy one. then the v-rod demo and when i inquired bout the price i laughed, i forget how much over msrp it was. i will own a v-rod and within the yr too. unless they get stupid. i am kinda curious when a bagger will be a production model. i saw one that was done aftermarket with a fixed fairing and it grew on me. my dealer doesn't even carry buells now.

i would like to demo a mv augusta F4CC.


TN

[Twolanerider]

i think this acquisition is to increase the european market share for hd.

That was my first thought also.  Any other bike acquisition is gravy.  What they got was a decent sized European dealer network.

[FastFreddie]

The idea of having to pay greater than retail, is again an idea that too many greedy dealers developed with the "Graying Oldies" that HD salemen have preyed on, the affluent over 50, near six figure income buyers who mostly buy the cruiser style bikes. Although I am nearing that age myself, I like them all if it has 2 wheels it good, if it's HD all the better. A wider offering of motorcycles can only help HD in the future. Too many HOG dealers only worry about todays sales and not tomorrow. HD factory knows the greying of their demographics and needs to reach younger people to survive into the future. And I for one would like to see HD celebrate their 200th Anniversary, but without new blood, new ideas, fresh markets it ain't going to happen.

[Special_Ed]

From Briefing.com at 7:16 est:

HOG Harley-Davidson to acquire MV Agusta Group for approx $109 mln  

 Co announces the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase the Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta Group. Under the agreement, HOG will acquire 100% of MV Agusta Group shares for total consideration of approx $109 mln, which includes the satisfaction of existing bank debt for approx $70 mln. MV Agusta Group has two families of motorcycles: a line of exclusive, premium, high-performance sport motorcycles sold under the MV Agusta brand; and a line of lightweight motorcycles sold under the Cagiva brand. The company sells its products through about 500 dealers worldwide, the vast majority of them in Europe. 

I guess a replacement for V-Rod.  They nice bikes for the money (until Mo Co gets hold of it).

OUCH!

[CVOJOE]

The MOCO gets an experienced water cooled engine engineering team, better suspension options, and and what looks to be product line replacements for Buell and V-Rods IF they decide to bring them across the pond to USA.

Hey the top of the line MV "Claudio" comes with a leather jacket and watch    Think York will ever do that for CVO's ?   

[hunter]

Better buy them now, before Mo Co raise their prices ....

[RioGlide]

i think this acquisition is to increase the european market share for hd. with outsourcing of all the companies it's starting to chip away at our economy. there used to be job security within certain fields,  that's why i choose to work for myself.

patrick, i rode a buell when first introduced and liked it. no i didn't buy one. then the v-rod demo and when i inquired bout the price i laughed, i forget how much over msrp it was. i will own a v-rod and within the yr too. unless they get stupid. i am kinda curious when a bagger will be a production model. i saw one that was done aftermarket with a fixed fairing and it grew on me. my dealer doesn't even carry buells now.

i would like to demo a mv augusta F4CC.


TN

I think I'd like a Buell to try.  Don't think it's the kind of bike I'd own though.  But you know what?  I'd love to try one.  HD dealers make that much less likely by hiding the merchandise though.  Too bad.  Honestly, if a dealer drops Buell, it's almost like a tree falling in the forest..... Why buy the franchise if you don't intend to support it though?

You're gonna love a V-rod.  I know we talked about this when I was there.  If you like the twisties, though, don't get a 240 tire.  It's a lot to push over in the twisties.

Agreed this acquisition is for distribution reach into Europe.  With the dollar in the tank, even HD's are price-competitive in euro and sterling terms.  I don't think the reverse will work out so well - Cagiva bikes are going to be prohibitively expensive compared to other bikes here, including the V-rod.  I don't agree that this is a V-rod replacement move.  Just Euro distribution, and maybe local production capacity in the event the dollar gets legs (doubt it)

<edit>
Adding the thought re Revo bagger - this is the watershed event (sorry about the pun) that will spell the beginning of the real next generation platform for this engine class.  Right now, the dragster-style frame doesn't make much of a touring platform.  This engine would be a wonderful addition to the touring frames, with a real passenger area and a real fairing / saddlebags.  The V-rod frame just doesn't work for a touring bike.  I've seen 'em.  They look like V-rod's turned into Electra Glide wanna-be's.  Doing neither side of the family tree justice IMO.  Check out the V-rod forums - they're dying for a real bagger.  I really do hope it happens.  But if it does, it will be the most violent negative reaction you ever saw among some die-hards.

[TN]

Okay then, how bought a revo engine in a fl frame??





 

TN

[iski]

Okay then, how bought a revo engine in a fl frame??





 

TN

A larger revo engine, maybe.......?

[Hobo]

Okay then, how bought a revo engine in a fl frame??





 

TN

I've heard a rumor that there has been a couple of these seen on the road in the Kansas City area.

Hobo