Harley-Davidson CEO Resigns

[HankD]

I rode HD Fat Boy models for many years when I was younger and loved them. I now ride a Spyder and love it. However, I did have the opportunity to ride a HD Tri Glide Ultra Classic about a year after getting my Spyder and absolutely hated it. It felt like one of the rear wheels was going to come up off the ground every time I went thru a turn. I'm guessing the Gold Wing trike is the same way.

 

[ARtraveler]

When HD introduced the Tri-Glide in 2010, I went to the HD dealer and looked at one. It was going to be either the HD or the new RT. RT won.

They tried to add an administrative fee onto the HD. $5,000...because they were in such demand. :roflblack: I walked...fast. I also did not like the ergos.

 

[Tango]

The one thing that are are still doing well is paint. Their paint is the best of the manufacturers. And when they were doing custom paints, awesome. Back in the day, Yamaha had a custom paint option. But they farmed it out to Bushtec. :thumbup: Tom :spyder:

 

[trikermutha]

They seem to be lacking Quality control as the same issues with there parts keep coming up every year I noticed.

Take a look at there CVO Trike if you have 50K laying around it can be yours. :roflblack:

I know when I had my TRI the dam compensator never got oiled correctly even thou it was in a oil bath. Even after replacing it with there new and improved part it still didn't get oiled correctly.

Got tired of driving the tank anyway and that's when I came over to the Spyder. :shocked:

 

[spyderwing57]

IMHO I kind of think Harley and Honda are looking at their Touring motorcycle crowd all wrong. Look at all of us that came from two wheels. We are older can't hold up the thousand pound motorcycles due to health reasons. we want to tour the country. All they had to do back in 2008 is look at all the hype the Can-Am Spyder created. I have spoken to riders that came off two wheels would have jumped at the chance to ride a Honda or Harley reverse trike. That being said Harley going after the younger crowd with the live wire is going to prove to not be what the younger people want. Honda is streamlining the Goldwing that helps some. But like I started with they would have done much better if they built a reverse trike.IMHO Can-am is much better for what Harley and Honda have done.

 

[RapidSpyder]

Black Hills Harley-Davidson is going strong, but a lot probably has to with location being 25 miles down the road from Sturgis. Agree with the “too expensive” posts. A couple guys there have been on me to trade in. Felt like telling them I could have two Spyders for the price of a similarly equipped trike. Also my son got his Victory for less then half of the similar Harley. Finally the punch card is a joke. $35 T-shirt’s and after 20 punches on the card you get 10% off? Should be free IMHO...

 

[Bangorbob]

Someone mentioned it earlier about most all mfgrs are not doing that well. I remember when each brand (Honda, Yamaha, etc) had their own accessories readily available. I do understand it cost $'s to keep stuff on hand. I currently have a Yamaha V star 1300 (wanting to sell) that they quit making. Yamaha cruisers/tourers are 250, 950, and huge. They have done away with bikes that ain't so heavy but still move down the road comfortably. BTW, always wanted an HD but too cheap to spend 20K on a used one.

 

[mcalva]

The HD message is a life of freedom, outdoors, etc. But that has an excessively high price. Neither the young nor the active workers nor the retirees can afford it and if the elderly make the economic effort we need not have to carry 450 kg of weight. The message of freedom is wonderful but every day tells us that paying for insurance, schools, mortgages and a long etc. keeps you from that "supposed freedom".
At a minimum it is an inconsistent message that is repeated in almost all brands.
The conclusion could be that if people don't have money, the first thing they cut are dreams.

 

[Highwayman2013]

Seems the adventure bike segment is doing okay. I like my Suzuki V Strom and even Harley is coming out with the Pan America Adventure bike.

 

[ARtraveler]

All of my life, I have liked the "big iron" types of bikes. Owned Venture, and Voyager full dress tourers. I tried the Wing back in 84 but it felt to cumbersome for me to handle. The Venture won out that time.

Also had big cruisers...Kawi 2000, Nomad 1500, and a couple Vulcan 900's. I still have a Vulcan 900.

The problem now at 74 years, is it is hard for me to balance a bike that weighs 1,000#. The Vulcan at 765# is even feeling a bit heavy for me. Thinking of selling off the Vulcan in a couple months or so.

I am very glad for the Spyders. I can still ride and tour, and don't have to worry of dropping it because something is off balance. The "trike" configuration does not work for me either. I like the comment that likens them to driving a "tank." I think they nailed it. :yes:

 

[JayBros]

There is a SL thread in which the OP asked for comments on riding a Harley trike and a Spyder that I'd often wondered what it would be like because I'm often asked that question. Since I never even considered test riding a Harley trike I generally answer the questioner by using the response one thread participant gave, "Like driving a dump truck."

 

[ARtraveler]

There is a SL thread in which the OP asked for comments on riding a Harley trike and a Spyder that I'd often wondered what it would be like because I'm often asked that question. Since I never even considered test riding a Harley trike I generally answer the questioner by using the response one thread participant gave, "Like driving a dump truck."

I believe Rider magazine tried to do such a test with Spyder vs. Harley TriGlide. Can AM refused to supply the bike. This goes back to 2010 or so. Based on what I have heard...like a dump truck or tank is probably a good comparo.

 

[Joe T.]

It's a leadership issue. H-D has no real vision of the future - never has.

Go through the H-D Museum. It is amazing how many great ideas/concepts they had. But, they never followed through. My particular favorite was the 'Nova.' And don't forget the V-Rod. Great bike. H-D dealers didn't try to sell it.

Look at their Trike and the full bagger Nova. The bagger Nova sure would have given GW a run for its money. Remember, these are from the 19u80-1990s.

Harley has always been about 'Sell The Sizzle, Not The STEAK!' Styling not technology. they never figured out that the two were not mutually exclusive. Too bad.

They had their chance to attract the younger crowd:

Buell 1125R

The Buell 1125R is a sport bike that was made by Buell Motorcycle Company in the United States. It was introduced in July 2007 for the 2008 model year. Production of road-going 1125Rs, and all Buell models, ceased in October 2009. In November 2009, Buell founder Erik Buell launched Erik Buell Racing, which initially produced race-only versions of the 1125R.[5]

The 1125R is powered by a 1,125 cc (68.7 cu in) Helicon V-twin engine made by BRP-Powertrain (Rotax) of Austria. The liquid-cooled engine has a V angle of 72° and produces a claimed 146 hp (109 kW), with a rpm limit of 10,500.[6] Motorcycle Consumer News tested 127.1 hp (94.8 kW) and 71.1 lbf⋅ft (96.4 N⋅m) at the rear wheel,[1] while Cycle World reported 134.0 hp (99.9 kW) @ 9,800 rpm and 75.9 lbf⋅ft (102.9 N⋅m)} @ 8,300 rpm.[2] The two magazines reported top speeds of 158 and 161 mph (254 and 259 km/h) respectively, and 0 to 1⁄4 mile (0.00 to 0.40 km) times of 10.51 and 10.39 seconds at 134.32 and 134.09 mph (216.17 and 215.80 km/h).[1][2]

The Helicon engine's 72° layout differs from Buell's previous V-twins, which were based on 45° air-cooled Harley-Davidson Sportster motors, modified for greater efficiency and output.

The 1125R includes a number of unconventional design attributes. The patented frame design houses the bike's fuel. The single, eight-piston front brake, called ZTL2, has a 375 mm (14.8 in) inverted rotor that is directly attached to the front wheel rim. This enabled Buell to design a front end that was lighter and more responsive than traditional designs. The bike also uses an exhaust under the engine for greater volume. The frame, front end and exhaust all contribute to Buell's main design aim of mass centralization. Instead of a drive chain the 1125R uses a drive belt, which does not require lubrication or adjustment.

I was about to buy one of these when H-D announced Buel as no longer in business.

Joe T.

 

[2dogs]

When HD introduced the Tri-Glide in 2010, I went to the HD dealer and looked at one. It was going to be either the HD or the new RT. RT won.

They tried to add an administrative fee onto the HD. $5,000...because they were in such demand. :roflblack: I walked...fast. I also did not like the ergos.

Same exact thing happened to me and my wife when we went into the local HD dealer. HD has priced themselves out of the market. BRP saw it coming, hence the ryker. Good friend of mine went with HD and his Tri Glide sat in his garage for over a year while he and another fellow, also with an ailing Tri Glide, battled HD through the lemon law process. Not good advertisement to have a $40K machine sit in your garage for over a year.

 

[glennm]

Out here I believe the only vehicles to increase sales last year were scooters and if I recall correctly off road bikes.
We are losing the Holden name (an Aussie icon) next year as it has been reported GM said it will cost $1.5B to wrap it up and many billions to reboot the brand. A lot of bad decisions over the years and this is where we end up even after multi billion dollar gov bailouts. Basically all that will be left for the dealers to sell are the Camaro & Silverado. I feel for the workers impacted by any shut down.
I do have great memories riding my brother's Electra Glide many years ago. It was a real delight, never liked his Sportsters though. 3 wheels for me now so Spydey is the best option.
We are seeing more and more smaller machines being brought into the country including many models that have been available overseas for years so even in our small market manufacturers and importers have had to adapt to changing buyer preferences or go the way of the Dodo.

 

[2dogs]

I believe Rider magazine tried to do such a test with Spyder vs. Harley TriGlide. Can AM refused to supply the bike. This goes back to 2010 or so. Based on what I have heard...like a dump truck or tank is probably a good comparo.

Yep, look at what Squared Away is doing for BRP now.

 

[pegasus1300]

I had my Harleys when I was in collage, mostly scrounged out of old barns and turkey sheds all over rural Utah. Fixed them to run rode them awhile sold em down in L.A. for books and tuition money. Went to the Yamaha Venture in 1983 and never looked back. I had 7 of them over the years until I wrecked the last one and had to go to 3 wheels. Sorry to see any manufacturer go down. Had a BSA, out of business, Triumph, out of business back in business out of business back in business, Norton, out of business back in business but who knows if it will last, Bridgestone out of business, Marushu, out of business, Zundapp, out of business. Hodaka, out of business Indian, in and out of business too many times to count. All of them made good popular machines at one time or another, but changing times and tastes, and poor management did them and many more in. I owned all of the above and am sorry to see them go. I would hate to see Harley go by the wayside. Beside being an American Icon, they make a good and a beautiful machine.

 

[wifesspyder]

Dont forget Victory. I never could get by the style, but owners loved them. Then one day.....poof. Now they have the Indian. A cool looking bike for sure but the dealers are spread far and wide. I almost bought one, but worried about dealer availability.

 

[Gunner3773]

I don't think Harley anticipated how many sales they would lose to Indian. The joke in my area is, if you want to shop for a used Harley, head over to the Indian dealer. My brother-in-law, a total Harley fanatic, who spent gobs of money on Harley, traded for an Indian last year. He said he could not believe how much more comfortable the Indian was over his Harley.

I was looking at a Harley Softail Slim last year with the Milwaukee Eight engine. I wound up buying an Indian and glad I did. Lots of trouble reported with the "Eight" engine and frankly, the Indian dealer experience was really pleasant and friendly.

My wife and I toured the Indian plant in Spirit Lake Iowa a couple of years ago. They were building bikes as fast as they could and the tour guide said that they had to add extra shifts to try to keep up with demand. Needless to say, I had the only Spyder in the Indian factory parking lot.

I do have to say, whenever I am out on my Indian, I get tons of comments when I pull up for gas or even am stopped at a stop light. When walking out of a store, I will usually find people looking at my bike in the parking lot of wherever I am parked.

 

[fatboy]

i have over 46000 trouble free miles on my 17 cvo limited it has carried me all across the states and parts of canada