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Post by wheelbender6 on Jun 26, 2018 22:06:15 GMT -5
"Harley-Davidson announced Monday it would move some of its production overseas to avoid a dramatic tariff increase imposed by the European Union." The EU tariff is in response to the US tariff on goods from the EU. I didn't realize that the EU is Harley's second largest market. I hate to see HD move some production over seas, but I believe they are just responding to changing economic conditions in order to remain competitive. -Ducati builds bikes in Spain to remain competitive. -Some Hondas are built in Thailand. -KTM has shifted some production to India. I feel like the Harley decision is merely an attempt to "follow suit", rather than becoming another shrinking American company. I wish them well. www.motorcycle.com/mini-features/harley-davidson-responds-eu-tariffs.html |
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Post by pistonguy on Jun 27, 2018 23:01:04 GMT -5
We shall see how this business decision works out for them.
I will predict this is a very poor business decision,
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 28, 2018 21:08:22 GMT -5
We shall see how this business decision works out for them. I will predict this is a very poor business decision,
I predict YOU are RIGHT about that... As an old-time Haley rider, and a life-long advertising/marketing professional, I'm sad to see these kinds of moves. First, H/D rushes into production of their 500cc and 750cc V-Twins to counter the successful, track-inspired Indian Scout and Scout Sixty... Good move! Then H/Dcalls them "LEARNER BIKES". Any of you boyz n' gurlz out there wanna ride a Harley they call a LEARNER BIKE? Yeah, I didn't think so...  Now, they announce moving production of some H/D machines to "Europe" and I don't think INDIA or CHINA constitute "EUROPE"... Must be that some younger marketing guru simply doesn't understand the iconic nature of the Harley-Davidson brand. Or its loyal buyers. And likely doesn't care, either.
This is like giving the "keys to the kingdom" to the new Indian brand... And if Polaris is smart, they will milk this H/D marketing mistake to the hilt with a push about Indian being an American icon OLDER than Harley, American made, worthy alternatives to H/D and still affordable.
If health and budget allowed, I'd be on a new Indian this season!Ride safe,Leo |
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Post by tortoise on Jun 28, 2018 23:01:13 GMT -5
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Post by pistonguy on Jun 29, 2018 6:20:08 GMT -5
I'd have a Indian. Ran into this gut at Rockingham last fall. Stock other than the air shifter that is actuated with the Horn button. low 11's and had a couple of high 10 second passes.  |
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Post by pistonguy on Jun 29, 2018 6:44:43 GMT -5
And not to forget TP 199 to do the Caesars jump, the Kings Island Buss jump and some fifty cars piled high jump on the Indian July 8th.  |
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Post by SylvreKat on Jun 29, 2018 6:48:11 GMT -5
... First, H/D rushes into production of their 500cc and 750cc V-Twins to counter the successful, track-inspired Indian Scout and Scout Sixty... Good move! Then H/Dcalls them "LEARNER BIKES". Any of you boyz n' gurlz out there wanna ride a Harley they call a LEARNER BIKE? Yeah, I didn't think so... ... Ride safe,Leo I'd ride a Harley called a Learner Bike, but not a 500 or 750. That's not Learner that's getting Big Dog! >'Kat |
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Post by SylvreKat on Jun 29, 2018 6:51:03 GMT -5
Just to play devil's advocate and I haven't clicked on the links, but IS Harley going to India or China? Or could they really be going to the EU?
>'Kat
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Post by wheelbender6 on Jun 29, 2018 16:59:07 GMT -5
My source did not specify a country, Kat. We know that they already manufacture bikes in India to be sold in India.
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Post by cyborg55 on Jun 29, 2018 20:10:40 GMT -5
Let them go,, Indian will fill the slot nicely,, when I rode hd briefly I was not impressed with either the metals or the fit,, nice paint but that was just about that,, threw away almost half the engine,, all of the suspension,, brakes,, easy 25% of the machine is still in boxes out in a shed,,,, I’ll take me a Scout any day over any Harley altho I wouldn’t mind a Vrod mill I could shoehorn into something,, but with ducatis scrambler800,, yamahas bolt street tracker style bike,,, and aprilias dorsoduro why would I bother, any of these would trounce a hog any day of the week unless the hd was so heavily breathed on then it’d “win”,,, if you did the same mods apples to apples the hd would again be buried,,, too archaic of the root design,, don’t get me wrong if I find an old hd flathead in a barn or shed I’m grabbin it,, be kind of fun to blast an old relic around but nothing for any kind of serious riding,,, I don’t think this decision will kill Harley but it’s going to give an edge to Indian that hd will never come back from,, I don’t consider the Indian to be anything more than the name,, it’s a modern bike made by a different company,,, same as triumph,, no relation to the original bikes in any way,,, that’s one thing you can say about Harley,, they’ve had their ups and downs just like everyone else but they hung in there
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Post by cyborg55 on Jun 29, 2018 20:18:05 GMT -5
Just to play devil's advocate and I haven't clicked on the links, but IS Harley going to India or China? Or could they really be going to the EU? >'Kat I would say no to that kat,, manufacturing regulations taxes and every other thing you can think of would put a major Obstacle in the way,, even bmw car engines are made in asia now as are piaggio/ vespas bmw bikes,,even the engine in peeg is made in Taiwan,,, just too restrictive and costly to do it here or in the eu in most cases,, |
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Post by crawford on Jun 29, 2018 21:20:21 GMT -5
Remember they are still making only bike made here for us. Also remember the stupid person who started this and and there will be more to come. No country will put up with stupid think why are ALL the other Piss at us just hope we don't need are backs covered. Just can't keep screwing with everyone and buddying up with Russia this leader is a sneak and a Lair maybe that's why to two get along so well.
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Post by oldchopperguy on Jun 29, 2018 22:32:16 GMT -5
... First, H/D rushes into production of their 500cc and 750cc V-Twins to counter the successful, track-inspired Indian Scout and Scout Sixty... Good move! Then H/Dcalls them "LEARNER BIKES". Any of you boyz n' gurlz out there wanna ride a Harley they call a LEARNER BIKE? Yeah, I didn't think so... ... Ride safe,Leo I'd ride a Harley called a Learner Bike, but not a 500 or 750. That's not Learner that's getting Big Dog! >'Kat
YOU are PRICELESS... Have a bone!You and I agree, and you make my point perfectly... A 500 or 750 is NOT a learner bike. At 12 years old, I learned to ride on a fifties' Duo Glide with kick-start only and suicide shift... I guess THAT made the 900-pound beast a "learner bike"... LOLOLOL! Those "Hoglets" (which ARE nice entry-level MOTORCYCLES) were marketed (originally) to compete with the very successful and very REAL performance motorcycles by Indian, the Scout and Scout 60...
Heck, for MANY riders, a 500 or 750 is plenty of bike for as long as they ride!When I was younger and in my "biker prime" a 500cc machine was considered a REAL credible MOTORCYCLE and a 650 was a full-size "big bike". A 750cc was over-the-top big-boy stuff pretty much limited to the Brit Royal Enfield750 and the incredible Norton 750... Both 100+-mph road-burners.
A "learner bike" would have been anything from a Whizzer, to a scooter, to MAYBE a Honda 160 twin.
Harley Davidson's move to make bikes "elsewhere" was talked about long before Donald Trump took office. This is just a lame excuse to save money. As others have pointed out, there are many businesses out there who for the price of a top-end Hog, will build you a real H/D-style bike (chopper, bagger, trackster, trike, etc.) from all American parts and labor.
And, there is Indian...  Dang! I wish I was spry enough to throw a leg over a new Chief! If that thousand pounds of steel, skirted fenders, leather, fringe and flathead-styled motor doesn't light your fire, you wood's wet! Or, you're just too young to get goosebumps over the rides your Grand Dad "had a Jones" for... LOL!
Harley Davidson bikes have an undeniable mystique attached to them, and Indian has the same mystique attached to the name. After at least two badly-failed attempts by others to resurrect Indian, Polaris has pulled it off... AND, with track-winning style!True, they are modern bikes using new tech, but they kept true to the original look, and make the machines in America. I think serious "Ameriphobes" (is there such a word?)… LOL! Will gravitate toward Indians and custom made bikes more and more. One of the most aggravating aspects of H/D's proposed move is its secrecy. Yes, just WHERE are they going to be made...? H/D just says "Europe". It's admitted that the 500 and 750 "Hoglets" are made from parts from ALL OVER the world, supposedly assembled in America, in a factory H/D says is closing. It might be noted that similar H/D bikes ARE made and sold in India, built in the H/D factory there...
Does THAT make THESE Harleys real "INDIANS"? Hoo-Haa, Woo-Hoo… I just could NOT resist THAT pun...  Younger riders with plenty of money will always buy a Harley no matter where it's made. Look at many American flags for sale for the upcoming 4th-of-July, MADE IN CHINA... I rest my case..... 
If the new Indian ever makes a nice, old-school step-through scoot, with springer-fork, and, say about a 500-700 cc motor... My budget will be in deep trouble... LOL!Ride safe,Leo |
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