Hi guys, have something I've gotta put out there.

So many of you here on the forums and out there in the world like to bash the Motor Company for anything and everything. Yet you own the product and support the brand.

Help me understand why

 

Human nature.


We all like to complain about the short comings of our machines (and the MOCO) but we rarely (if ever) speak about how much our bikes(s) and sport means to us, and even more rarely compliment all of the folks who design, engineer, build and market their products to us.


I've been riding H-D's since October, '74 (a gold '75 Sportster XLH) and I've bought many since.


Got a '13 CVO Ultra now (along with a few other models) and plan to have a Tri-Glide sometime in the not-too distant future.


Can't imagine NOT having a hawg in the garage!

 

Can you be more specific? There are complainers that just like to complain/troll and then there are those who have legitament issues with their purchases and/or dealer. If customers don't hold companies responsible for quality issues who will? Customers not settling is how companies improve.

I've never had a mechinical issue with any of my Harleys but I know that has not always been the case with Harley motorcycles. It because of the feed back from the customer both positive and negative that has resulted in Harley putting out a better product.

 

Because we love the bikes but hate the greedy marketing machine H-D has become. Personally I wish they would stick to making bikes and parts, and forget about all the overpriced t-shirts, stuffed animals, playing cards and other crap. Go into any dealership and about half of the store is filled with clothes and toys and other junk.

 

Good thought... I've wondered the same. I've not bashed the MOCO but I have the dealer. I think if I were as unhappy about the manufacturer and distribution network as some seem, I simply would not purchase the product. Will be interesting to see some of the comments.....

 

No bashing from me. HD has done me ok since 1974. Always had one in the shop ever since along with other brands. Nothing like the real thing baby.

 

Very few of you had the pleasure of the AMF era. Many of the problems were labor disputes. UAW workers sabatoging bikes. The 1974 FXE my dad had was a POS. The Evo motor saved Harley. Too bad quality has slipped some. They'll figure it out as sales drop.

 

Same here,, it's that and,,
Folks ride and work on "metric" bikes also,, folks can buy parts anywhere and do their own work, right ?
Slap an HD label on it/or for HD and the same part costs 3 times as much.

 

What do you care? .......... You must not have a Harley. If you have to ask...................

Dudes trollin.

 

Why are the dealerships filled with "clothes and toys and other junk" to include "overpriced t-shirts"? Because the MoCo makes a fortune on the general merchandise.

Here is an excerpt from the 2011 financial report I pulled from the website:

Quote:

Revenue from Motorcycles for the full year was $3.55 billion, a 13.3 percent increase compared to the year-ago period. Full-year P&A revenue was $816.6 million, a 9.0 percent increase compared to 2010. General Merchandise revenue was $274.1 million, a 5.8 percent increase compared to 2010.

They made $3.5 Biilion dollars on motorcycles, almost $1 Biilion on parts and accessories and $275 Miilion on the general merchandise that fills the dealerships. That "stuff" isn't going away anytime soon.

Here is the full report for those that care to read it:

http://investor.harley-davidson.com/...cle&ID=1651657