Free The Eagle - Case For Change
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,171
From: SE Michigan
Did you read the PDF? They put in information on how they turned around other companies before, drastically. And they laid out their desired qualities in a new CEO.
Irrelevant though. Tariffs are going to affect all companies, all industries, it's the new reality, and any CEO is going to have to contend with them. I assert that a competent CEO who has their mind firmly set on growing sales, profits, and shareholder value will succeed in any tariff environment better than a grossly and perhaps criminally negligent CEO whose #1 goal is the eradication of vehicles that use fossil fuels. Zeitz has a massive and irreconcilable conflict of interest between his goals and the company's businesses. Harley cannot, will not, and can never succeed so long as they're "led" by a climate change activist who wants to sell fewer bikes at fewer dealerships and thinks that the market must shift to electric, when the market has clearly shown it has no interest in electric motorcycles at this time.
Irrelevant though. Tariffs are going to affect all companies, all industries, it's the new reality, and any CEO is going to have to contend with them. I assert that a competent CEO who has their mind firmly set on growing sales, profits, and shareholder value will succeed in any tariff environment better than a grossly and perhaps criminally negligent CEO whose #1 goal is the eradication of vehicles that use fossil fuels. Zeitz has a massive and irreconcilable conflict of interest between his goals and the company's businesses. Harley cannot, will not, and can never succeed so long as they're "led" by a climate change activist who wants to sell fewer bikes at fewer dealerships and thinks that the market must shift to electric, when the market has clearly shown it has no interest in electric motorcycles at this time.
So I read the "solutions" section - very short on specifics, but a long list of desired outcomes. What's missing is: "How?" That's always the hard part.
They do mention right-sizing inventory, again, no mention of how, but this is one thing the members of HDForums will certainly complain about. If your dealer network is too large, supplying each with the appropriarte amount of inventory would result in too much aggregate inventory. Answer: continue to reduce the number of dealers. I don't like that either, but its a cold hard fact. The market for motorcycles is shrinking and fragmenting.
In just the last week alone, since the weather is getting better, I've seen a **** ton of e-bikes, scooters, etc. 30 years ago those would have been Sportsters, the entry point to Harley Davidson. Big problem.
Last edited by Keithhu; Apr 24, 2025 at 01:11 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 805
From: Washington
Nice try - no cigar
You got to hand it to H Partners....they do an excellent job of driving with the rearview mirror. A good summary of past history, no specific forward looking solutions other than to change management. How would you like to be out on the road, your motorcycle breaks down, and some guy pulls up in a new Cadillac, hops out and says "I know what's wrong -- it doesn't run". That's H Partners. I also found their comments on half the dealerships not making money to be very irritating. The reason they don't make money is because they suck! They (dealerships) do a crappy job of understanding their potential customers, nickle and dime you parts and apparel purchases, and layer-on nonsense fees onto an already expensive motorcycle. In the end, H Partners doesn't appear to solve problems, merely point them out.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
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From:
There seems to be a recurring theme in all of their media: cancelling the air-cooled Sporty was a mistake. I think whoever wins this cat fight will probably bring back something along that line. The Revmax bikes arent passing muster.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,148
Likes: 6,171
From: SE Michigan
I dont think bringing back an air cooled sportster is the answer, my point was people have a lot of alternatives to a mortorcycle that we didnt have years ago.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,315
Likes: 1,663
From: Tampa
Irrelevant though. Tariffs are going to affect all companies, all industries, it's the new reality, and any CEO is going to have to contend with them. I assert that a competent CEO who has their mind firmly set on growing sales, profits, and shareholder value will succeed in any tariff environment better than a grossly and perhaps criminally negligent CEO whose #1 goal is the eradication of vehicles that use fossil fuels. Zeitz has a massive and irreconcilable conflict of interest between his goals and the company's businesses. Harley cannot, will not, and can never succeed so long as they're "led" by a climate change activist who wants to sell fewer bikes at fewer dealerships and thinks that the market must shift to electric, when the market has clearly shown it has no interest in electric motorcycles at this time.
And don't think for one second HD is gonna just absorb the increases...
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 3,134
From: Texas
Because there's nothing any CEO can do about them. That's entirely out of their control. So it's not a factor in their search.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Tampa
That's true, but there's no reason they can't have both. Triumph does it successfully. They've got their Modern Classics line with liquid cooled engines, and the Roadster line with the air cooled nostalgic engine. I could see HD doing that same thing with the Rev Max engine, and the old Sportster lump.
And while they're at it, is it really necessary to have EIGHT different models of Touring bike and THREE different Trikes?
They need to figure out how to make smaller bikes more profitable (and increase their offerings down there as well) because the big bikes clearly aren't flying out of showrooms anymore.
And while they're at it, is it really necessary to have EIGHT different models of Touring bike and THREE different Trikes?
They need to figure out how to make smaller bikes more profitable (and increase their offerings down there as well) because the big bikes clearly aren't flying out of showrooms anymore.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
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I hear you and agree somewhat. But, bait and switch and loss leaders are proven successful business models, and most sheeple are brand loyal to a fault. I.e. provide a valid entry level bike, maybe even at a loss... you'll hook 'em for the inevitable trade-up for sure, and make a windfall...
Last edited by panheadache; Apr 25, 2025 at 08:21 AM.