How to save Harley Davidison
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From: sean_q_ on 10 Jul 2010 15:35 BryanUT wrote: >> I'd like to see a single cylinder 800 cc bike, HD style > It was called the Buell Blast. The Blast had only 492, not 800 cc. And how can *this* be called "HD style": http://www.bikerzbay.com/images/stories/Buell/2000/2000_Buell_Blast2.jpg SQ
From: sean_q_ on 10 Jul 2010 15:44 High Plains Thumper wrote: > I'd like to see a single cylinder 800 cc bike, HD style, with a 5 gallon > petrol tank - Thumpster. Make if fuel injected to meet EPA if required, > oil cooled, but a thumper nonetheless. Price it slightly below the > entry level Sportster. I think it would be a hit. http://motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/1905-harley-davidson.jpg SQ
From: Bob Myers on 10 Jul 2010 15:53 sean_q_ wrote: > The concept is that plenty of HD fanatics (such as the type > who get themselves tattooed with Harley's logo) would be glad > to volunteer to travel (at their own expense) to Milwaukee > and assemble HD motorcycles -- not only pro bono, but would > actually be willing to *pay* the MoCo for the privilege! What percentage of that crowd do you think would be both skilled enough to do the work, and be able/willing to cover the costs? And it has to be for an extended period of time, too - a work force consisting of people who only show up for two weeks at a time isn't a very good thing. You'd spend way too much time and money keeping everyone trained. HD is going to make it or not on their own merits, like any company should. Bob M.
From: Andrew on 10 Jul 2010 16:52 "sean_q_" <nospam(a)no.spam> wrote in message news:4T0_n.12213$3%3.8275(a)newsfe23.iad... > The site recently mentioned by S'mee [in "Proper oil for cruisers"] > contains links to a series of articles on How To Save Harley Davidson, > starting with this one: > > http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/oped/save-harley-davidson-part-1-branding/ > > I wasn't aware that HD needed saving. But if they do then > I have an idea of my own, namely "paying volunteers". > > The concept is that plenty of HD fanatics (such as the type > who get themselves tattooed with Harley's logo) would be glad > to volunteer to travel (at their own expense) to Milwaukee > and assemble HD motorcycles -- not only pro bono, but would > actually be willing to *pay* the MoCo for the privilege! > > Of course they'd also have to buy their own branded work duds, > pay their own living expenses and even buy their own (branded) > tools if necessary. > > Imagine the line-up of volunteers. HD might even have to arrange > for them to competitively bid for various jobs. After their > contracts expired, workers would then be allowed to buy a patch > reading, "HARLEY DAVIDSON VOLUNTEER" with the number > of motorcycles helped in building. > > For an extra fee, celebrities such as Paris Hilton could pay > extra to sign their name on the bikes they worked on, and > of course such machines would command premium prices > on the sales floor. > > I'm sure Harley Davidson could exploit their strong brand > loyalty in other new ways I haven't thought of. Ideas, anyone? > > SQ HD should build a line of bikes around the Vrod motor which cost less and are lighter, then maybe they could increase sales and margins. BTW, they aren't going anywhere as is. -- Andrew 00 Daytona 00 Speed Triple 05 Squiddo
From: sean_q_ on 10 Jul 2010 20:36
Bob Myers wrote: > You'd spend way too > much time and money keeping everyone trained. The volunteers would pay for their own training. There would be free parking though (for Harleys only, of course). > HD is going to make it or not on their own merits, like any > company should. Then I don't suppose you have a very good opinion of Reagan's protective tariff to bail HD out the 80's. SQ |