nklr: short write-up on h-d waning market
Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2010 4:50 am
http://money.cnn.com/2010/09/17/autos/harley_davidson_fall.fortune/index.htm?hpt=C2
Probably not news to many of us on the list, but a lightly interesting read.
The article mentioned H-D getting rid of Buell and MV Augusta.However, it was never mentioned how to solve their woes from an R & D perspective.That is, what sort of new products would help H-D in the face of their dwindling core market segment.I'm no business man, but I would think that's the lifeblood of any serious company that would ensure survival.
One thing I did not realize is they were selling over 300K bikes at their peak and predicting 400K in 2007!I find it hard to believe they did not foresee a drop in sales with the rate of bike they were producing.
Anyways. I never plan on buying a Harley or buying into the lifestyle, but I do wish them the best of luck as an American company.I would hope that they start making products that I (and the other market segments they've left untapped) want.
In the meantime, give some love to the other US underdogs:
Highland MotorcyclesThis is what you get when a Swede gets invited to Oklahoma to build v-twin and single-cylinder off-road and road bikes!Some of these are insane.http://www.ushighland.com/bike_gallery.php
Fischer Motor CompanyHailing from my native Maryland. Yeah it's a 650 Hyosung v-twin (similar design to the SV-650 engine), but they make the frames and try to source many parts from the US. Ohlins suspenders and Brembo stoppers are standard. A nice, American sport bike for less than $8,000.http://www.fischer1.com/Fischer_Motorcycle.htm
The re-incarnation of BuellWhat can you say, that man is a thoughtful and driven motorcycle maker. If anything, he's untethered now and probably a bit wiser after his separation from H-D.http://www.erikbuellracing.com/
ATKMakers of off-road bikes. However, they seem to have a cunning new plan to resell Hyosung cruisers in select H-D dealerships. The plan is for these bikes to be feeder models for customers who will eventually move on to an H-D big twin. Sounds like a familiar story.http://www.atkusa.com
If I've left any good ones out, please add to the list.
Josh.