Harley Moving?

[lzski326]

I found this on the internet.
After 107 years, Harley to hit the road?- Top Stocks - MSN Money

[Papa Zook]

There is a thread on a popular Harley Forum that has an ongoing list of Harley dealers that are closing. Most of them are the giant Mega Stores that have such high overhead they just cant keep the doors open. I hate it for them, but it might be good for the mom & pop stores left out there.

[Gorilla]

Those intangible costs will get you every time when things are slow. Harley's pressure for dealers to be in big stores near the expressways might of been good during the good times but now the small store with the established customer base will survive. New sales should be the gravy, parts, repairs and accessories should be the bill payers.

[skuuter]

Always so hard to discuss Harley Problems without comin' across as a Harley Basher......I really like Harleys, but I like most Every Motorcycle that's made. Most all of Them have Their merits. I've owned really good ones from most Every Brand over the years. I hope Harley gets it's issues worked out, and soon......:wtg:

[Shriner Jim]

The only thing H-D was doing was sending out a warning to the union membership. "You guys give in on some of the bennies or we will move". It's just a chess game, cat and mouse with the union. Go ahead and move it, maybe TN, AL, MS. Look at the auto manufacturers...Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mercedes Benz, VW, Hundai, Kia....the list goes on. You can make better goods with lower costs if you use your head.

[TNTriker]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Shriner Jim</strong>
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<div class="message">The only thing H-D was doing was sending out a warning to the union membership. "You guys give in on some of the bennies or we will move". It's just a chess game, cat and mouse with the union. Go ahead and move it, maybe TN, AL, MS. Look at the auto manufacturers...Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mercedes Benz, VW, Hundai, Kia....the list goes on. You can make better goods with lower costs if you use your head.</div>

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</div>I say bring'em to TN. We will take 'em! I have worked hard all my life, made a fair wage, gave a fair days labor. I saved, invested and reitred with a decent income! Never paid union dues nor went on strike or was ever laid off due to union problems! They rule our government, cost the tax payers billions and have not been necessary for many decades.

I would say to Harley..talk is cheap, you can never win when the union is involved. Make the move...the people will stand behind them. I own a 2010 Street Glide trike and my husband just traded his 08 Ultra 105th annaversary bike for a 2010 Road King...both are paid for. As long as we own a motorcycle...it will be a Harley, unless EVERYTHING is sent overseas.

[Gorilla]

They also maybe trying to get some tax breaks from the local government.

[Southern Man]

A southern non-union made Harley woud most likely be $2,500 less money.

That is the added cost of an average union made car or truck.

I owuld like to see a new softail heritage, Fatboy, or Deluxe for $16k and not 18/5.

[520fd]

I think Milwaukee will not let them leave. They will do anything to keep them in Milwaukee. I just ordered a 2011 Tri-Glide Ultra the other day. If I knew Harley would move to another country, I would definately not buy from them again. I'm not the only one that feels that way. They would cut their own throats if they did. I was told the other day that an assembler on the line at HD makes close to $100,000.00 Wow. I'm assuming that's overtime/health ins. and other bennies included. As far as going overseas, I don't think the price of a Harley would go down.

Just my rant. Jerry

[BlueTrinity]

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<img src="images/misc/quote_icon.png" alt="Quote" /> Originally Posted by <strong>Southern Man</strong>
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<div class="message">A southern non-union made Harley woud most likely be $2,500 less money.</div>

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</div>Not a chance! It possibly could generate an extra $2,500 in profit for MoCo, but the purchaser would never see it.<br />
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That Softy you want would likely cost another grand just to absorb the cost of closing an old plant. :Flag:

[Bikerbozo]

H-D could do with closing a couple of Boutiques. I remember stopping at an H-D dealer in Lacross, WI in the early 90's. He sold Harley's and chainsaws. Let me borrow some tools to fix a problem and I also bought a stock seat from him for my '77 FLH. Great guy.
Next time I passed through town in '00, he was gone and replaced by a boutique. I needed new tranny fluid and decided to take a break and let them do it (I was on my honeymoon, after all). I had to take the mechanic out to the parts dept. and show him what oil to use and how to replace it. You should have seen another dealers confusion when I wanted to replace my secondary chain (it was 16'F and I had just ridden through the night from Florida and didn't feel like doing it on side of road). It took 3 mechanics to figure out how to do it.
On the factory moving, all I heard was they were looking to move out of Milwaukee, but stay in USA.

[Boscoporp]

I think that all the big bikes are having financial problems. Hard to find a buyer that has $25,000 for a toy!