The Future of Harley-Davidson

[Icy Mountain]

Rebecca,
I do choose my words carefully. You should read them more carefully. If I was going to stereotype people, I wouldn't start by putting former Marines in the "anti-establishment side of the H-D crowd". There are a lot of different people who ride Harley for a lot of different reasons. I bet some of them would be surprised by this news.

One of my good friends bought a Harley instead of spending the money that was going to go for endless visits to a psychologist. I am happy to report that she is very well-balanced and stable mentally (and also while on the seat of a Hog). She does not give a damn whether they made shell casings, or not.

 

[Marc]

She does not give a damn whether they made shell casings, or not.

Nor should anyone. I posted that because it's part of their history, not as a political or other issue. There have been weak bike sales times in Harley's history which isn't unusual for a company so old. During the times they had low sales they took other contracts to keep production and sales of 'something' going just as companies always do and are doing today.

I'll bet not many people know Harley was once owned by AMF (think Bowling Lanes and related bowling equipment) - 1969 until 1981.

Harley-Davidson

 

[Jim Wynne]

Rebecca,
One of my good friends bought a Harley instead of spending the money that was going to go for endless visits to a psychologist.

So in a addition to ex-marines, you're also against psychologists.

 

[Icy Mountain]

So in a addition to ex-marines, you're also against psychologists.

...and newspaper columnists, certified quality engineers, white punks on dope, Nine Inch Nails, and digital rights management, among other things. The list is asymptotically approaching infinity.

P.S.
My brother holds a PhD from Texas Tech in Child and Family Therapy.

 

[Jim Wynne]

...and newspaper columnists, certified quality engineers, white punks on dope, Nine Inch Nails, and digital rights management, among other things. The list is asymptotically approaching infinity.

P.S.
My brother holds a PhD from Texas Tech in Child and Family Therapy.

You made the mistake of prodding my musical memories in the direction of The Tubes and Fee Waybill, one of the best bands ever:

 

[Craig H.]

I'll bet not many people know Harley was once owned by AMF (think Bowling Lanes and related bowling equipment) - 1969 until 1981.

Harley-Davidson

Yeah, that was the time when their motorcycles came with a custom made pan to place under the bike when you parked it so you could recycle the oil. They almost sunk the company.

 

[Icy Mountain]

In the interest of riding this thread as far off topic as possible, it was a live version by the Tubes that I was thinking of when I wrote that. It can be found on the (broken link removed).

 

[Jim Wynne]

Yeah, that was the time when their motorcycles came with a custom made pan to place under the bike when you parked it so you could recycle the oil. They almost sunk the company.

There was an attempt made to expand the brand (see the attachments) but it was horribly bungled, mainly by bad management and poor quality. This is part of what soured the new H-D management on deviating from what they considered the core products.

 

[Icy Mountain]

This is part of what soured the new H-D management on deviating from what they considered the core products.

That doesn't stop them from "co-branding" or placement marketing the H-D brand on pretty much anything from underwear to Class 8 Trucks.
Example and example.

 

[Jim Wynne]

That doesn't stop them from "co-branding" or placement marketing the H-D brand on pretty much anything from underwear to Class 8 Trucks.
Example.

They make more money on their General Merchandise, licensing and Parts & Accessories divisions than they do on selling motorcycles. Another part of their present problem is lack of unity (constancy of purpose) of the various selling entities, which is definitely a failure of top management.