Modern Vespa

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/harley-davidson-posts-lower-profit-cuts-more-jobs

Headed the way of Indian?
Harley-Davidson is hurting on two crucial fronts
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/harley-davidson-could-be-running-out-of-time?siteid=rss&rss=1

Maybe they should market Scooters again! Hello H-D, remember the "Topper"? hehehe

Maybe if their motorcycles cost a wee bit less...

As the Market Watch commentary indicates HD will need to refocus on their market...specifically the younger generation...perhaps a HD scooter line...

Will be interesting to see if there's a market segment that they are missing or not utilizing with the legend that HD has created.

Not much was mentioned about their Financial Services...regardless reveune / unit sales are down.

Stock had an slight uptick based on anticipation of a recovery as the 50% lost per share over prior year has already run it's course.

Spent all day yesterday riding a (rented) Harley with Mrs Jess on the back. I rather enjoyed the experience, but Mrs Jess is convinced that HD is incapable of making a decent pillion seat on all but the Leer Jet-sized model, and has informed me that I will not be purchasing one.

As I read this I knew there was an ulterior motive to this husband and wife bonding event...good try...let's face it wives (don't forget mothers!) are just too smart...at least you got her on the HD!

You could try the old..."Well Honey...if HD was to make a seat that was acceptable to you would you consider a HD?....then it's custom seat time!"

or buy 2 so she can ride with you

3 guys who work with me ride Harleys, my wife says I can get a Harley with my next wife, soooooooo, no HD for me.

Just like the vespa, its a fine cycle and cost more

What Bike was it? Rent a street glide she'll love the ride.. I have a 2007 and none of my passengers complain about comfort. most of my day rides are 200-300 miles and a weekend trip 1000-1200 miles and wish I could do more. My limit is my wallet I never have time or cash for more then 5 day trips. Now my big problem with the HD is I hate the way everyone thinks thay have to dress. " like a pirate" But you'll love the way the touring bikes ride and so will the wife.

But she lets you have the Nevada.....so maybe it's just you can't have BOTH.

Then just say bye to the Guzzi and hello to an HD. ( I just said bye to my Ninja 650 and moved to a small metric cruiser that is closer to your Guzzi than to a HD. Those are just too big for me at this time. I don't particularly like dressing like a "pirate" anyway. )

At least she gave you an option!

Harley's are a steal right now.

Tons of 883 & 1200 Sportsters for around $3000 to $4500

Harley should build the TriHawk - They Bought the Company & The Patent in 1984 and put the company out of business.

I'd buy one.

They have a front wheel drive car front end. You could build one from a Toyota Tercel or Honda Civic.

The Original had a 65 horsepower Citroen Motor, and it ran 0 to 60 in under 10 seconds and topped out about 100.
Double the HP and it would be real fun

They originally cost over $14,000 which was a lot of cash in 1983
Not such a bargain when $11,000 would buy a nicely equipped Mazda RX7

Not so many people want to play dress ups anymore???
Ooh, look at me I'm a big, bad Outlaw biker type.
General public more scared of Meth addicts now I suppose.

werd

Last Fall, Mrs Mongoose and I each bought HDs - she got a 1200 Sportster, I got a Super Glide. A few weeks ago, a local dealer had demos out front. We took a spin on an Ultra Classic Electra Geezer Glide. She tapped me on the shoulder, about two blocks into the ride, and said, "I think we made a mistake getting two bikes. This is nice back here." (She's not to fond of riding pillion on my SG.)

Two of the four vespa dealers in my part of the state are going under soon. So its not just HD's getting hit.

also be shocked if the Q2 numbers were good for Vespa, especially year-over-year.

I got my self a few hundred shares of HD stock when it hit the 52 week low of around ten bucks its back at 18 now. I think HD will Ride it out. I would bet that even when Motorcycle sale are low Tee Shirt sale are still high. Tee shirts + Marketing= $$$$

Harley Sportsters for around $3,000 to $4,500...is that new or used you are talking about?

Ohhhh....that is so cruel! (Sounds like my wife!)

Great timing...good buy in...figure what you want to do to leverage your gain...

I'll sell what it cost and keep the rest to balance my porfolio. I'm still betting on C at the moment.

Harley are due to release the details of their 2010 models at the end of this month,the electra glide is reported to be a 103 cubic inch as standard,cant see that helping sales over here in blighty,what about the other side of the pond?

Leave the bikes as the 2009 models and keep the price down,i hav'nt heard of reported improvments for the rest of the touring models softails,dynas or tthe rest of the range.

Just had a chrome front end put on my ultra classic,it does look nice,but was expensive although some of the work was warranty,which made it a bit easier on my wallet.

Steve

Back as recently as the nineties the dealerships would work on any Harley from any era. And amazingly they had factory parts hidden away somewhere for just about any model. Nowadays I hear they won't work on bikes older than some fairly recent year. I'll just keep the HD I've had since '93.

The other thing I hear is they will not deal on the price like other companies will in these economic times.

Harv

My wife and I have already decided that at some point in time the two Vespa's will be going and when they do we will get either a 3 wheel Harley or a 3 wheel Honda. If these babies ever come to the USA, the Vespa's will be gone much sooner.

I rode harleys back in the pre evolution days and the shops were always happy to see and you felt like you were part of something special, then came the new harleys and the evolution bikers and all of a sudden you were faced with one year waiting lists sales hacks that didn't give a rats ass and a general attitude that were better then you. That was the last time I went in a harley shop and spent my money on BMW and Ducati bikes instead. I always thought harley would take a hit once the RUBs got bored and moved on to new things. Oh the bikes themselves are a ton of fun, luv that low end grunt

can't say people are treated different at a high end scooter shops. The Rubs as you called them are what keep Harley alive, I like vespas but CC for CC the harley wins in resale and value. as far as sales staff at dealers go I was treated with respect all the way by my sales person Carol, like anything you take the good with the bad.

As the article said, the problem is that the pure harley fan is a dying breed.
Ask the younger generation what kind of bike they want and HD is way down the list.
If they can't find a way to attract younger buyers, they will be in trouble.
Good thing they bought MV Agusta huh?

The problem is cash flow for everyone at the moment, the housing "ATM" burst. and Bike, cars, computers& New homes are in red.

I concur that if you have the means and desire, now is a great time to pick up a Harley... I just got an 09 Street Glide and got a killer deal plus the tax credit (thanks Obama). Week and a half later, took it in for the 1K mile service and the dealer handed me the keys to a demo bike to use while my bike was in for the service. How many other powersports dealers have you heard that do that? The dealer experience can certainly be very positive. As far as the people who buy Harleys are concerned... yep, there sure are a lot of douchebags out there that need to play dress up to ride. However, take a look around this forum, scooterists are just as guilty.

The main ingredient pumping Harleys bubble up was sub prime loans pushed out to unqualified motorcycle buyers. The loans were packaged and sold to Wall Street as "securitized investments" that were bought by investors including retirement funds!

In 2008 the defaults on those loans started soaring. Wall Street had an "ah ha" experience and Harley Financial Services could no longer sell high risk loans to Wall Street.

The air hissed out of Harleys bubble and the joy ride was over (in my opinion).

In 2008 the defaults on most sub prime loans started soaring, most people having to make a choice will let the Toy go first, just take a look at toy haulers and RV's sales now,

LOL you are correct on the dress up. Pirates and wanbe mods

Sure HD's feeling the pinch right now, but show me a discretionary dollar, leisure industry that isn't. I like my Harley's and will probably always own one, because I really like variety and I'm fortunate enough to have several options. I'm certain HD will rebound, but the product line will have to be altered to remain competitive. It's a new market for everyone.

If I'm not mistaken Vespa failed and was picked up by Piaggio, who let the air out of the one?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news: Carver Europe files for bankruptcy

how is victory doing financially? this was another company that has surprized me with its ability to stick around. Its got the polaris back up (last I heard)

:?:

Piaggio has always been the parent company of Vespa, from the very start.

Now, Piaggio has been picking up a lot of other brands along the way...

I see a BUNCH of Pick ups with very long trailers full of mostly HD and choppers..
What do you think these are?
Yup... Repos....
A lot of dealers do in house financing for like 10 years... ridiculous...