Harley in Big Trouble??

[MONTY]

Originally Posted by dynadude

I'm sick and tired of hearing the answer to American manufacturing is moving it offshore. That just perpetuates the problem. I like to partonize companies that have some sense of corporate responsibilities.

OK, i popped a blood vessel over the suggestion that all bikes are toys, but should also credit you with being right on the money with this later comment - moving any work "offshore" (which is a polite industry eaphamism for "getting some foreigners to do it for crap money so it's cheaper for us") only serves to educate the foriegn folks to compete with you, so in the long run they end up beating you at your own game. As a pertinant example: How did the japs start out making motorcycles? They got a licence to build Harleys locally for their own market ... and as the old saying goes "The rest is history"!!

[AdamWilliams]

A tough economic climate like the one at present doesn't happen with much frequency, but when it does come and settle, few if any companies are immune from being negatively affected. But like every other economic downturn on record, the cycle (no pun intended) eventually comes full circle, and good times return. Who's old enough to remember odd-n-even days at the gas pump in the late '70s? It looked like the end was fast approaching, but everything ran its course, and we saw a boon period once the dust had settled.

[street bob]

Harley-Davidson is a tough company and will weather this storm. There will have to be some tough calls and some downsizing to be sure, as all of us who have companies have had to do it. I am partners in a machineshop and we had 12 employees at one point. We are currently at 6 , which are all the partners in the company. We are holding our own because we can focus on the realities at hand and we all pull for the benifit of keeping this company alive. We have to!
Harley has to do the same, as all other companies who want to come out on the other side of this a stronger company.
Harley saw a huge upswing in purchases and profits because it was stylish to own a Harley. During Harley's bad times it was the die hard bikers who kept Harley afloat with purchasing bikes that leaked right on the showroom floors and always bought parts to keep them going.
Most of the people who own Harleys now won't even change their own oil, let alone build a motor or tranny. The true Harley diehards will still do what they can to keep their bikes rolling and the others will sell off what they really don't have that deep of a passion for.
Harley will survive, but may be a smaller company. The dealerships will survive as well so long as they realize who the people are that keep them going. We are no doubt in tough times and the worst hasn't hit yet.
Hold on brothers, we'll make it!

[harold]

The dealers arnt stuck El toro lawn equipment is still in business wth the economy in the drink alot of lawn care guys will be let go , people will still have to care for the grounds and will need equipment to do it. It kept the dealership going in the 70's , why not now!