Open Letter To Harley Davidson
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,886
From: Newcastle, OK
I have been researching the Harley Davidson decline and the closing of the Kansas City Plant. What I see is not much different than the Sears CEO's strategy has been with turning around the decline of Sears and Kmart. All that has been accomplished is thousands of people losing their jobs and things like the iconic "made in America" Craftsman line being all but gone. Sears is down to a few small stores in each town and the Craftsman line mostly being sold in places like Kmart's and Ace hardware stores.
Best Buy with changes like people going form buying CD's to downloading music and the fact that a large number of vehicles now are coming with nice car stereo systems/touch screens there is no longer the large number of people spending hundreds of dollars in having car stereo's, woofers and amplifiers installed. Best Buy had to change some of the structure of their stores to replace and adapt to the lost income and keep them from ending up like Circuit City.
I had a high school teacher that always would say that you never forget to learn from History.
Harley Davidson can either end up like Sears and Circuit City (my and most Harley Davidson owners view were they are headed) or like Best Buy adjust to the changes of the market and find new ways to bring in sales.
I can get a design/engineer team together in one week that can turn the sales decline around, save the Kansas City plant, come up with a new retro line (like the Mustangs and Challengers), fix existing flaws in some current non-selling models and come up with several high selling new special edition motorcycles.
I have owned everything from mopeds, go-carts, mini bikes, dirt bikes, enduros, crotch rockets and Harley Davidson's. I have also sold cars and I know the dealership aspect.
I took marketing in high school and I have a plan for that and a documentary "on the turn around of an American Legend" and I can probably get some Rock Stars involved.
I am offering Harley Davidson the opportunity to be in the news for saving the Job's at the KC Plant (and their suppliers, etc.), Raising the flags high up with pride in being "Made In America" and be what they once were a pride of the American people.
The other choice they have is to continue down their current path and be in the news like Sears and Kmart with yearly store closing list's and everyone in the country discussing "what they used to like", I have researched several dealerships crowds lately and there are a large number of people like myself buying a used "classic" Harley Davidson before they are all gone before what most people think is the end of the iconic brand.
Best Buy with changes like people going form buying CD's to downloading music and the fact that a large number of vehicles now are coming with nice car stereo systems/touch screens there is no longer the large number of people spending hundreds of dollars in having car stereo's, woofers and amplifiers installed. Best Buy had to change some of the structure of their stores to replace and adapt to the lost income and keep them from ending up like Circuit City.
I had a high school teacher that always would say that you never forget to learn from History.
Harley Davidson can either end up like Sears and Circuit City (my and most Harley Davidson owners view were they are headed) or like Best Buy adjust to the changes of the market and find new ways to bring in sales.
I can get a design/engineer team together in one week that can turn the sales decline around, save the Kansas City plant, come up with a new retro line (like the Mustangs and Challengers), fix existing flaws in some current non-selling models and come up with several high selling new special edition motorcycles.
I have owned everything from mopeds, go-carts, mini bikes, dirt bikes, enduros, crotch rockets and Harley Davidson's. I have also sold cars and I know the dealership aspect.
I took marketing in high school and I have a plan for that and a documentary "on the turn around of an American Legend" and I can probably get some Rock Stars involved.
I am offering Harley Davidson the opportunity to be in the news for saving the Job's at the KC Plant (and their suppliers, etc.), Raising the flags high up with pride in being "Made In America" and be what they once were a pride of the American people.
The other choice they have is to continue down their current path and be in the news like Sears and Kmart with yearly store closing list's and everyone in the country discussing "what they used to like", I have researched several dealerships crowds lately and there are a large number of people like myself buying a used "classic" Harley Davidson before they are all gone before what most people think is the end of the iconic brand.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
Cobra Racer - Your facts have been twisted and distorted through out your posts. First the ending of the V-Rod early in the production year and the Dyna allowed the plant to begin producing the 18 Softail models to be ready for the new model year. Also blatantly in error is your and others assertion that the Asian plant produces bikes. They do not. They receive sub assemblies from the US plant that makes them then minimally broken down for shipment. This avoids the high tariffs that they have. The same is true of the plant in India.
You don't seem to understand that many of the KC employees have the chance to relocate to York for the new positions there (about 550 total).
You need to read with better comprehension and do far more research instead of spouting half facts and innuendos.You do give the impression that you don't know **** about how H-D is handling its business.
You don't seem to understand that many of the KC employees have the chance to relocate to York for the new positions there (about 550 total).
You need to read with better comprehension and do far more research instead of spouting half facts and innuendos.You do give the impression that you don't know **** about how H-D is handling its business.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: montreal
Man ho man, some people here are really pro in marketing and engineering. The one that are the loudest are the one thar don't own a M8. For my part, I owed all the different engine since 1974 up to now M8. I have been riding my FLHX 4000 miles now in 2 months with zero problem. Several of my riding buddies have M8 with also zero problem. So before saying that HD will probably vanish from the map, think a little more of Harley's history. It went through though times more than once and a slow down in sales doesn't mean they will be out of business. The M8 is a great engine that kick ***.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 4,353
Likes: 1,966
From: PA
I agree, I hope to own one someday.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 7,618
Likes: 10,437
From: Des moines IA
If the OP now wants to end the thread and discussion because he had opposition, I'm pretty sure he didn't have the wherewithal to withstand taking HD to the next level.
My thoughts are..... I'd like to buy the OP for what he's worth and sell him for what he thinks he's worth! Now thats how to be profitable!!!!
My thoughts are..... I'd like to buy the OP for what he's worth and sell him for what he thinks he's worth! Now thats how to be profitable!!!!
Last edited by Dsm Limited; Jun 3, 2018 at 07:23 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 298
Likes: 48
From: Carson City, NV
If thats your opinion thats fine. You said you dont care. Either way it wont change anything. Just like the OPs wont.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 19,978
Likes: 6,074
From: Florida
" Motorcycles aren't high up (or even on) peoples' lists of things they want to acquire in life, not like they were for prior generations. "
That IS true. There was a time when I woulda begged,borrowed, or stolen to own an HD, & not even a new one. I didn't aspire for a family, house, kids, etc. All I wanted in life was a Harley & I woulda been happy with a ratty old flattie, just so's it said "Harley-Davidson" on the tank, and that is exactly what my first Harley was, a '41 80 C.I. Flattie. Happiest day of my life was when I brought that leaky old fire-belching-out-the-air-cleaner POS rattletrap home in the Spring of '78 & all my neighbors came out & gathered around, just to see my new toy. Dickey's new old HD was the talk of the neighborhood for days after.
Times have changed, & IMHO for the worse. Nothing means anything anymore.
That IS true. There was a time when I woulda begged,borrowed, or stolen to own an HD, & not even a new one. I didn't aspire for a family, house, kids, etc. All I wanted in life was a Harley & I woulda been happy with a ratty old flattie, just so's it said "Harley-Davidson" on the tank, and that is exactly what my first Harley was, a '41 80 C.I. Flattie. Happiest day of my life was when I brought that leaky old fire-belching-out-the-air-cleaner POS rattletrap home in the Spring of '78 & all my neighbors came out & gathered around, just to see my new toy. Dickey's new old HD was the talk of the neighborhood for days after.
Times have changed, & IMHO for the worse. Nothing means anything anymore.
Last edited by dickey; Jun 3, 2018 at 07:50 PM.
Banned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4,576
Likes: 978
From: Viet Vet, crossroads
!
With all due respect, if they have become a boutique store selling nothing but fuffy underwear crap why are you bothering to post about it? Keep what ever you have. Run it into the ground.
If thats your opinion thats fine. You said you dont care. Either way it wont change anything. Just like the OPs wont.
I am not running this bike into the ground, its the best Platform HD ever made and I have made it better
My 1994 Road King is everything a current model is except the BS electronics.
I can fix it most anywhere.
Th new stuff is problematic.
That is why I am posting, and, HD is running itself into the ground
No, I won't change anythng, and neither has HD, just add complexities.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 9,510
Likes: 13,769
From: Pa.
" Motorcycles aren't high up (or even on) peoples' lists of things they want to acquire in life, not like they were for prior generations. "
That IS true. There was a time when I woulda begged,borrowed, or stolen to own an HD, & not even a new one. I didn't aspire for a family, house, kids, etc. All I wanted in life was a Harley & I woulda been happy with a ratty old flattie, just so's it said "Harley-Davidson" on the tank, and that is exactly what my first Harley was, a '41 80 C.I. Flattie. Happiest day of my life was when I brought that leaky old fire-belching-out-the-air-cleaner POS rattletrap home in the Spring of '78 & all my neighbors came out & gathered around, just to see my new toy. Dickey's new old HD was the talk of the neighborhood for days after.
Times have changed, & IMHO for the worse. Nothing means anything anymore.
That IS true. There was a time when I woulda begged,borrowed, or stolen to own an HD, & not even a new one. I didn't aspire for a family, house, kids, etc. All I wanted in life was a Harley & I woulda been happy with a ratty old flattie, just so's it said "Harley-Davidson" on the tank, and that is exactly what my first Harley was, a '41 80 C.I. Flattie. Happiest day of my life was when I brought that leaky old fire-belching-out-the-air-cleaner POS rattletrap home in the Spring of '78 & all my neighbors came out & gathered around, just to see my new toy. Dickey's new old HD was the talk of the neighborhood for days after.
Times have changed, & IMHO for the worse. Nothing means anything anymore.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
That is exactly how it was back in the 70's. HD wasn't selling a ton of bikes, but to a certain crowd, that is the passion and desire that made Harley-Davidson an icon. Different times, but GREAT times. If the OP can figure how to put that kind of desire to own a HD, he would be worth more than Bill Gates.
The only places where motorcycle still sell are mostly third world country's with extremely high gas prices...where have to be "rich" to own a car.
When all the baby boomers are gone HD will be a t-shirt company.
Cheap dependable motorcycles are the only ones in demand right now