Yet another motorcycle factory closes.

Discussion in 'Anything Goes' started by mofo, Jan 31, 2018.

  1. mofo

    mofo New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2011
    Messages:
    1,205
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Orange County Ca.
    Map
  2. Lint

    Lint Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2012
    Messages:
    4,805
    Likes Received:
    950
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Simi Valley, Ca.
    Map
    As my Harley loving brother said,

    'Saw that. It is unfortunate for the employees.

    From a customer/harley enthusiast's perspective, I'm actually comfortable with Harley shrinking a tad bit. Too many people have bought them as an icon, and not so much to ride. Harley has gotten a little fat, prices have gone up too high and resale value has plunged due to over-saturation of the posers getting rid of their bikes after they figured out that riding wasn't their thing.'
     
    fink and Mind_Surfer like this.
  3. Gator

    Gator Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    Messages:
    5,201
    Likes Received:
    811
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Map
    And the whole "buy American" view is now being thrown out as a Harley is (depending on model) parts made in Japan, Korea, China ect. All the apparel I have seen is made in China or Vietnam.
     
    fink likes this.
  4. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2008
    Messages:
    2,245
    Likes Received:
    270
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Platte City, MO
    Map
    Just a bit of a nitpick: the HD plant that is closing is in Kansas City, Missouri, not Kansas.
    I don't think it's too much of a surprise, they've been downsizing and laying off for several
    years.
     
  5. duccmann

    duccmann Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Messages:
    9,214
    Likes Received:
    910
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    SoCal
    Map
    Maybe sales are low because all the hard-core boomers are dying off—-


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    Mind_Surfer and FJ12rydertoo like this.
  6. scottbott

    scottbott Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2016
    Messages:
    348
    Likes Received:
    82
    Trophy Points:
    58
    Location:
    Grantham,Lincolnshire,UK
    Map
    wonder if the new Goldwing is not going to help Harley as it looks to be a brilliant bike albeit miles out of price range
     
  7. thtanner

    thtanner New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2016
    Messages:
    215
    Likes Received:
    144
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Orange County, CA
    Map
    Baggers have always been expensive, and so have goldwings. I don't think the new wing will do anything for motorcycles in general.. but just sell more wings :D
     
  8. mofo

    mofo New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2011
    Messages:
    1,205
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Orange County Ca.
    Map
    Good clarification.
     
  9. mofo

    mofo New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2011
    Messages:
    1,205
    Likes Received:
    48
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Orange County Ca.
    Map
    But Lint, every single one of those bikes is a "custom" bike.
     
    Lint likes this.
  10. Gator

    Gator Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    Messages:
    5,201
    Likes Received:
    811
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Map
    Seeing there is only a $200 difference in the HD Ultra and Wing tour, which bike would you buy? The old joke "If Harley made an airplane would you fly it?" comes to mind.
     
  11. FJ12rydertoo

    FJ12rydertoo Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2008
    Messages:
    2,245
    Likes Received:
    270
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Platte City, MO
    Map
    I think that is the main reason. Harley has depended on biker wannabes and poseurs for many decades. They found that if they deviated much at all
    from the accepted bike models sales suffered. Witness the V-Rod, decent (for a Harley) bike, but just didn't look and sound like a Harley. Now they
    need to sell bikes to the next generation, and many young people don't want an "old person's" bike. They could end up like Moto Guzzi as a niche
    brand.
     
  12. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2011
    Messages:
    6,479
    Likes Received:
    949
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Anaheim, Ca.
    There is a slight difference between "Made in America" and "Built in America". There are so many products that are built (assembled) in America vice made (manufactured) in America. Ultimately, both usually require American workers, which means employment, which is the good part. The whole clothing made outside America thing I think is total BS! as most HD fanboys buy more HD apparel than any product loyalist I know! That whole supporting America thing gets thrown out the window here.
     
    Mind_Surfer likes this.
  13. Mind_Surfer

    Mind_Surfer New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2011
    Messages:
    456
    Likes Received:
    49
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    VA
    Could be a trend, for instance around here the only shop (oldest Yamaha dealer in Virginia) reasonably close shut it's doors last year. The local MX track closed too. You would have to travel over an hour to purchase a bottle of fork oil, if they even had any. Need a race suit or boots, forget it.

    Chain drive wallets, you can get plenty of those though ;-)

    Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2018
    duccmann likes this.
  14. Gator

    Gator Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2012
    Messages:
    5,201
    Likes Received:
    811
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Boynton Beach, FL
    Map
    To bad Victory is gone, they were almost entirely made and built in America. Indian is really the only one now. And Motus but they are very expensive.
    I think the VFR's are still all Japanese.
     
    Mind_Surfer and Lint like this.
  15. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    3,522
    Likes Received:
    391
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    East Bay, California
    Map
    I believe the plant was building the V-Rod, not very popular with Harley die hards.
     
    Mind_Surfer likes this.
  16. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2011
    Messages:
    6,479
    Likes Received:
    949
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Anaheim, Ca.
    At one time the Goldwing was built in the US but when I did a search about where its being built now, it looks like they moved production back to Japan. :(
     
  17. James Bond

    James Bond Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2006
    Messages:
    1,313
    Likes Received:
    155
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Dixie
    Map
    That, a new generation that doesn't ride, and changed spending habits caused by the Obama / Bush "Great Recession". Money just doesn't flow as freely as it did in the mid 2000's and yes, the price of Harley's has gone over the top for too many people still hurt by power mongering social engineering, politicians. Harley also has competition, to some degree from Indian, who builds a better bike in some people's minds. Harley is not coming back to their heyday when people bought them because they were "a toy to have". Those days are over no matter what they do. Disposable income isn't as visible as it once was.
     
    duccmann likes this.
  18. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    6,120
    Likes Received:
    853
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Desert Southwest
    Obama did it. WTF is wrong with people.

    It happened because of economics, changing demographics, and the inability of the manufacturer to change with the times.
     
  19. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2006
    Messages:
    9,838
    Likes Received:
    743
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Buffalo, NY
    Map
    Trump :homer: visited a Harley factory in PA during the election, and when they offered him the chance to take a short ride, he refused. (Pussy :chicken: man !)

    So if he won't ride one...................:deadhorse:
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2018
  20. VFR4Lee

    VFR4Lee Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,100
    Likes Received:
    530
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Reseda / LA
    Map
    There's no point in making something that does not sell.
    How long until Harley is just a clothing company? :D
     
    James Bond likes this.
Related Topics

Share This Page