Bummed by economy? Harley-Davidson says 'screw it'

[WandaMae]

I ride a nice VTX 1300, I love my bike, I also love HD, but I choose to buy a bike I could ride for a long time without worry. I ride will all types of different riders and it is true, if you love to ride, it does not matter. HD is an ICON for sure, and people from all walks of life ride them or not. Does not make you any better or worse if you do or if you don't. Love to ride then ride, but ride safe cause all the crazy cell phone using - text messaging inconsiderate hummer driving people are still out there not seeing you! See ya on the road Iwill be the one with the Custom Paint Jap bike - but you will love it anyway! cause it looks great!

[St_Pauly_Girl]

WandaMae wrote:

I ride a nice VTX 1300, I love my bike, I also love HD, but I choose to buy a bike I could ride for a long time without worry. I ride will all types of different riders and it is true, if you love to ride, it does not matter. HD is an ICON for sure, and people from all walks of life ride them or not. Does not make you any better or worse if you do or if you don't. Love to ride then ride, but ride safe cause all the crazy cell phone using - text messaging inconsiderate hummer driving people are still out there not seeing you! See ya on the road Iwill be the one with the Custom Paint Jap bike - but you will love it anyway! cause it looks great!

Well said WandaMae!

[St_Pauly_Girl]

Marine from Marine wrote:

my god, I must be the rider from hell. I have a Harley (heritage softail) and a Jap bike (Yamaha Road Star) which is completely custom. Both are great bikes. To add insult to injury I have a masters degree and I actually went back to school and got a degree (two year) in HVAC. I am both blue collar and white collar. Kill me now!!!!
I forgot to mention I have two tattoo's and I have even drank PBR. I will never get a date!!! I know, God created Honda's to keep Gays off of Harley's. I also know the difference between a Harley and a Hoover ----- The location of the dirt bag. I also know what they call the riders of crotch rockets. Organ Donors. There, I think I covered all the bases. It's a beautiful day here in Marine on St. Croix, I think I'm gonna ride.

You are definately the best!

[MyLife]

Marine from Marine wrote:

my god, I must be the rider from hell. I have a Harley (heritage softail) and a Jap bike (Yamaha Road Star) which is completely custom. Both are great bikes. To add insult to injury I have a masters degree and I actually went back to school and got a degree (two year) in HVAC. I am both blue collar and white collar. Kill me now!!!!
I forgot to mention I have two tattoo's and I have even drank PBR. I will never get a date!!! I know, God created Honda's to keep Gays off of Harley's. I also know the difference between a Harley and a Hoover ----- The location of the dirt bag. I also know what they call the riders of crotch rockets. Organ Donors. There, I think I covered all the bases. It's a beautiful day here in Marine on St. Croix, I think I'm gonna ride.

This is an excellent post! I'm laughing for sure! Thanks!

[Red Ryder]

I'm no more bummed by this than by gorebull warming.

It's cyclical and not forever.

Anyway, once our new prez is in office it will be nothing but rainbows and unicorns.

[Archie Anderson]

HD and the Gang now want nothing to do with the neighbor hood bikers that kept those Milwaukee oil pumps running and kep supporting HD when AMF took over and manufactured Milwaukee Vibrators,
Harley says they are now a family oriented business( no longer sell HD Cigarettes) ther new clientel is rich urban yuppoes that don the leather and become week end hell raisers, Come monday AM they are back in their office.

Harley Davidson will fail without the dedicated owners and riders that kept them running through thick and (thin, the introduction of long lasting Japanese bike) But Now ? So long Harley, see ya around the tofu bars. For a while yet someone in need of an idendity can still get some mileage out of the name.

[Teddy Kennedy]

Red Ryder wrote:

I'm no more bummed by this than by gorebull warming.
It's cyclical and not forever.
Anyway, once our new prez is in office it will be nothing but rainbows and unicorns.

John McCain is a global warming kook like the rest of the Dems in the field-beware.

[wellstonevoter]

We need to get those dang bikes banned. They're dangerous and they pollute. The only bike anyone needs has pedals and is a good cardio workout.

[Bash]

wellstonevoter wrote:

We need to get those dang bikes banned. They're dangerous and they pollute. The only bike anyone needs has pedals and is a good cardio workout.

I don't own motorcycle, nor do I have a tattoo. But all I can say is that you are a complete goofball.

[Reverend BigBlock]

Harley's new slogan "Screw it, let's ride" came from the age-old biker slogan "F__k it! Let's ride!" It was created by one or more guys who, like everybody else, had some bad days, months, or years. It was around in simpler, easier, better times, and was, and is, an expression of wanting freedom from life's complications and problems. However, Harley made a mistake by presenting it now, when there are major problems worldwide that need understanding and cooperation from all of us. Also, by replacing "F__k" with "Screw", it lost its funk and power - it sounds adolescent and stupid. They should drop it, read the forums more, talk to Harley owners/riders more, and stay in touch with how we think and feel TODAY. Most of us are not stupid or irresponsible, and we all want a better world and life.

[TitoFTW]

Reverend BigBlock wrote:

Harley's new slogan "Screw it, let's ride" came from the age-old biker slogan "F__k it! Let's ride!" It was created by one or more guys who, like everybody else, had some bad days, months, or years. It was around in simpler, easier, better times, and was, and is, an expression of wanting freedom from life's complications and problems. However, Harley made a mistake by presenting it now, when there are major problems worldwide that need understanding and cooperation from all of us. Also, by replacing "F__k" with "Screw", it lost its funk and power - it sounds adolescent and stupid. They should drop it, read the forums more, talk to Harley owners/riders more, and stay in touch with how we think and feel TODAY. Most of us are not stupid or irresponsible, and we all want a better world and life.

Couldn't agree more, Rev.

[MyLife]

Archie Anderson wrote:

Harley Davidson will fail without the dedicated owners and riders that kept them running through thick and (thin, the introduction of long lasting Japanese bike) But Now ? So long Harley, see ya around the tofu bars. For a while yet someone in need of an idendity can still get some mileage out of the name.

I think they only shipped about 50,000 bikes in 1990. In 2007 they shipped almost 300,000. They will surely fail if they don't keep the new customer base. If sales figures drop off, the stock will crash and they'll have to close the doors.

[Archie Anderson]

HD is as American as apple pie, John Deere, Radio Flyer coster wagons, And nothing could be worse than to see an American heritage like HD go under, we all lose . I hope they send the top floor packing and get back to accomodating the most dedicated and faithful customer in the world,and that was the kid that worked at the Cities Service station and rode a 49 FLH that he assembled himself to save the $35.00 set up charges and paid the high price of $1,075.00 for one of the most beautiful hydra forked bikes in the world. Then in two years would re build the engine himself from parts bought at Belmont, Eckberg,Leo's on 4th ave so, sold Indians and the new Zundapp, starting in 47 48 all of the owners of the HD shops would do Gypsy tours riding with the dedicated customers.
Hang in there HD, America remembers you.

[Kenneth Lane]

Labor Unions should have a place in the future as they did in shaping the American Dream. Without them our nation is doomed to the insanity of Republican jake the fake economics------as we are now witnessing. I'm an old guy with a memory--this is not the first time Republicans have screwed up the nations economy.
AS to the success of unions and Harley Davidson-----daaaa wake up! Besides the current runaway inflation puts to bed the long time Republican LIE of wages having anything at all to do with prices.

"Harley can't sell overseas"--- might want to check the facts there bunkie!

Long Time Harley Rider wrote:

Labor unions have had their place in the past but they have had to come into reality with the auto makers and guess what, American cars compete pretty well now a days. I love my 2000 injected RoadKing I bought used years ago and I love vintage cars. Actually I sold my hotrod that got 9mpg and replaced it with the Harley because I enjoy it much more often. But this purchase was based on emotion for old American iron. I didnt buy it because it was the fastest, lightest or cheapest. Harley just wont ever move over seas or tell the unions "No we wont pay you $50+ an hr. with a sweetheart insurance and retirement plan to put the wheel on the bike, put the wheel on the bike, put the wheel on the bike" and if the unions didnt abuse this fact so much Harleys sticker prices would be more in line with other makes and have a bigger market share and thus there would be more room for more workers and more security for them. They just cant keep workers on if they arent selling bikes.
The EPA is about to kill off pushrod motors completely in the next 3 yrs! Read the restrictions for emissions. No new car has come with a pushrod motor for at least 15 yrs. V-rod motors will be in baggers sooner than you think. HD finally went all fuel-injection across the board on all models in 07', to buy them some time, though they introduced it in 99'. Noise restrictions are also getting tighter. Did you know HD makes a superior gear box with angle cut gears instead of straight cut for the Japanese market. Not only is it quieter but stronger and smoother. Harley sadly cant just stay the same in a changing world. Now this is REALLY going to make existing bikes hold their value very very well but thats not going to help the motor co much more than selling parts. Theyve got some serious growing pains coming. I really hope HD has the guts to move into the modern world of emissions, noise and labor issues.

[rick haynes]

frank wrote:

harley's slogan should be "our junk is way overpriced and the japanese make a much better product for half the price."

bite me, buy your trash and fly your japanese flag

[Night Train]

"Screw it, let's ride", to be honest I think it's a great slogan and falls right in with the philosophy of "two wheel therapy". I hope HD doesn't make it a registered trademark as it is a slogan that should be used by all riders.

As far as HD's problems go respecting lay offs etc, they are going through the pains of evolution (excuse the pun), as are most North American manufacturers. The non Harley riders are quick to jump on this and predict doom and gloom because a Harley isn't a crotch rocket but no one seems to mention that Honda is closing all their motorcycle manufacturing plants in the US and moving them back to Japan.

I've owned countless bikes of all genders over the years (since 1967), and I've never had one that let me down. I have two Harleys now, one for 2 up touring that I just bought (03 Ultraclassic) and one for solo riding (00 Softail Night Train). I've got 80,000 on the Night Train without any problems and I plan to maintain the ultraclassic in the same manner so I don't anticipate any problems with that one either.

I have to admit that any other bikes I've owned were based on what I could afford at the time and were there for me to ride the hell out of until I got my next bike. I bought both Harleys with the intent of keeping them for so long as I can ride so their resale value is not a concern to me. I have no intention of parting with either one for a long time to come yet. There is no "next bike" on the horizon as there has always been in the past.

Now, when the weight of the world comes knocking on my door I can put a slogan to the response I have always had, "screw it.... let's ride".

[rick haynes]

nice way to put it night train, what gets to me is some folks out there just have to slam others for what they ride, and i just hate it when americans promote japanese, or outside products. we are in enought trouble because we buy away from home.

[Sold Soul]

St_Pauly_Girl wrote:

I wish I had a Harley! Haters

It all boils down to the fact that Harleys are not bought becuase they are great motorcycles made in the U.S. They are bought because people think they are cool. I have owned and own many. Anyone knows that most of the parts on todays Harleys are made in Japan. The bikes, parts and apperal are WAY overpriced. You can get a Jap bike that is faster, brakes better, lasts longer and parts are cheaper, for HALF the price of a Harley. Any time I can, I buy from a local bike shop or over the internet, but we all know that eventually you are forced to go to HARLEY dealerships and spend money. Most of the GEEKS riding harleys today,are the furthest from bikers. I liked it better when the posers were afraid of US. Ride if you love it, not becuase you wanna look cool!