Harley-Davidson layoffs are company's largest work-force reduct...

[Who Cares]

They don't call em "hogs" for nothin'.
I don't see how they get these motorcycles to suck so much gas!
It's a 2 cylinder engine with just 2 wheels, you'd guess they would get twice the MPG of an average car, but they don't do they?
Do they even get 25 MPG?
This is where management's vision is lacking. These vehicles should be engineered to have a serious MPG advantage over a car, but I don't think they do.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but a "hog" really is a "hog". And the gas tank is small too for the amount fuel required to go anywhere.
I think Harley could do some work on the MPG
and cruising range.

[MyLife]

Ok, you're wrong. Man, you don't know shit about H-D. Get educated. Your post is a whole lot of hooey. A Jap inline four gets about 30 mpg on a good day. My "hog" gets about 45 if I'm on the throttle. My gas tank is 5.1 gallons. The Jap bikes are about a gallon smaller. I like Jap bikes, Italian bikes, and British bikes as well as my American bike. Which happens to be only 650# and is a pleasure to ride.

[MyLife]

Origin of "Hog" nickname

Beginning in 1920, a team of farm boys, including Ray Weishaar, who became known as the "hog boys," consistently won races. The group had a hog, or pig as their mascot. Following a win, they would put the pig (a real one) on their Harley and take a victory lap.

[old man]

I have been reading the post here and some of you have good points. But most of you are just backing up the brand of bikes that you like. First Harley doing the right thing by cuting their staff. If you want to break a company have 66 months are more of your good just seting in a wear house some where and keep on runing 24/7. Dodge seen this problem and complety shut down their truck plants for a number of months. Look at things this way. The next time you get dress and put on your clths maded in Mexico, turn on your radio are tv make in Japan are korea, nuke you some to eat in your microwave oven made in china ,and get in that car are bike that came from japan, Cook that hamburger that came from South America and the list gos on and on. People the only jobs left in this country is fliping burgers. There not any thing made in this country any more. That is what takeing people jobs away. Some one said go on strike,which be puting gas on the fire. And don't put all of the problem onto the gas company either. Gas and any thing that has to do with oil can and will keep going through the roof untle the supply get near the demand. And that not going to happen until they let more drill be done in this country and build more refrinerys(MS) . Its been 40 years sent the last one was built. One of these days the people here will have to make thir mines up on to save that little bird are what ever it is they trying to save are get use to walking.

[tyuoiuyt]

old man wrote:

I have been reading the post here and some of you have good points. But most of you are just backing up the brand of bikes that you like. First Harley doing the right thing by cuting their staff. If you want to break a company have 66 months are more of your good just seting in a wear house some where and keep on runing 24/7. Dodge seen this problem and complety shut down their truck plants for a number of months. Look at things this way. The next time you get dress and put on your clths maded in Mexico, turn on your radio are tv make in Japan are korea, nuke you some to eat in your microwave oven made in china ,and get in that car are bike that came from japan, Cook that hamburger that came from South America and the list gos on and on. People the only jobs left in this country is fliping burgers. There not any thing made in this country any more. That is what takeing people jobs away. Some one said go on strike,which be puting gas on the fire. And don't put all of the problem onto the gas company either. Gas and any thing that has to do with oil can and will keep going through the roof untle the supply get near the demand. And that not going to happen until they let more drill be done in this country and build more refrinerys(MS). Its been 40 years sent the last one was built. One of these days the people here will have to make thir mines up on to save that little bird are what ever it is they trying to save are get use to walking.

old man you may want to research some of your comments there.

[Screw It]

I am a Harley employee - non union, or “non production” as we were jokingly referred to at an employee town hall about 2 weeks ago by management.

I have seen the all of the familiar faces of ‘grey hair’(40+) employees walking the halls disappear the last 2+ years replaced by youth. We have a whole new culture at work. Called the ‘youth initiative’, a term used to market to new riders, younger generation (apparently from ground up, & inside out). Layoffs are just another way to ‘cut the fat’- non union, long time, hardworking & dedicated employees. We’re screwed. 300 salary will also be laid off.

It really hurts to be victimized & set up for failure (which seems to be the modus operandum) & to see this culture flourish where no one gives a crap to achieve the bottom line. Gone are the HD values “Tell the Truth, Be fair, Keep your Promises, Respect the individual, Encourage intellectual curiosity, I was once so proud to represent!

Rich Teerlink helped turn our company around by embracing the philosophy:“People are your only Sustainable Advantage”. This is gone & it shows. After 14+ yrs I will probably be laid off sometime next week or the following. I guess it’s just as well….

What’s the HD new slogan?“Screw It”? Nice…

[Optimistic]

Back in 1961 we had an economics professor who stated that the USA, in 50 years, will simply be a service economy; no manufacturing to amount to anything. We snickered at his outdated beliefs. Turns out, his philosophy on many subjects has been coming true. His prophecy is rearing its ugly head. We're SLOWLY falling in worldwide importance, not even our economic prowess means much in today's world. You'll really have something to further complain about soon, along with your supposed loss of civil rights, liberties, etc. Just the beginning; ain't seen nothin' yet. Won't matter much then. No one remembers who came in second.

[Optimistic Again]

tyuoiuyt, you and others possibly should be listening to the old man from Sweetwater, TX. Through many years of ups and downs, I too have begun to appreciate the hindsight of OLD AGE. I know, we're just blabbering old bastards. Good luck!
Been There, Done That.

[galvodog6]

Man in Black wrote:

Harley needs to look to the future. With the current gas prices they need to be working on bikes that people can afford and drive to and from work on a regular basis. When a bike costs almost as much as my house does.....kinda hard to justify.
Hell not just bikes, most cars are running 30 to 40k. I paid 65k for my house.

that'll be your oil bill for 2008

[mmnba]

Optimistic Again wrote:

tyuoiuyt, you and others possibly should be listening to the old man from Sweetwater, TX. Through many years of ups and downs, I too have begun to appreciate the hindsight of OLD AGE. I know, we're just blabbering old bastards. Good luck!
Been There, Done That.

your just old and bitter because you never planned for your golden years like so many in this country. now you want to blame someone because the handout you thought you deserved is not there. practice what you preach....

[wonder boy]

I'm not sitting on 2 wheels out there.
4 wheelers are scary enough.
My only complaint about Harleys is the gas mileage. They don't call em' hogs for nuthin'.

[Dave]

wonder boy wrote:

I'm not sitting on 2 wheels out there.
4 wheelers are scary enough.
My only complaint about Harleys is the gas mileage. They don't call em' hogs for nuthin'.

You have no idea what your talking about!!!! My Harley gets over 40 mpg.

[MyLife]

wonder boy wrote:

I'm not sitting on 2 wheels out there.
4 wheelers are scary enough.
My only complaint about Harleys is the gas mileage. They don't call em' hogs for nuthin'.

They call them HOGs because the team mascot of a Harley race team back in the 1920's was a Hog.

I like to ride and can deal with cagers just fine. I guess it's more important to me to actually live instead of fearing death every day of my so-called life.

[Union sucks]

The union of Harley workers will piss themselves out of a job just like the idiots from Cat did years ago. Tom Booger is the devil in disguise folks, he will lose you all your jobs.... he only has HIS best interests in mind

[Steve]

Thats about true for all union leadership!

[Union hater]

These people need to open up their eyes!