Breitbart:
[…]
Harley-Davidson executives said in a statement:
The plant under construction in Thailand is a separate and unrelated issue. Part of our long-term strategy is to grow our international business to 50 percent of our annual volume by 2027. The Thailand facility will allow us to be competitive and provide riders greater access to our brand and our products in an expanding global marketplace.
Increasing production capacity in Asia is consistent with the company’s long-term strategy to focus on growth internationally. It is not intended to reduce U.S. manufacturing.
Harley-Davidson famously opposed President Trump’s pro-American tariffs on steel and aluminum, saying the decision would hit their profits, as Breitbart News reported. Harley-Davidson, though, was protected by tariffs in the 1980s under President Ronald Reagan, when he raised tariffs on imported motorcycles. At the time, Harley-Davidson was “delighted” by the tariffs. more
I know, let’s raise tariffs on Japanese motorcycles….
Oh damn! I thought I was back in the early 1980’s.
The only way to end this nonsense is to make the manufactures that do this pay a stiff tax.
In the past we were offering tax credits to manufacturers to ship jobs overseas. I hope we still aren’t doing that.
I know, let’s raise tariffs on Japanese motorcycles….
Oh damn! I thought I was back in the early 1980’s.
The only way to end this nonsense is to make the manufactures that do this pay a stiff tax.
In the past we were offering tax credits to manufacturers to ship jobs overseas. I hope we still aren’t doing that.
Union lies again? Where’s the truth?
Harley Davidson’s whole business model is based on gouging customers for parts and repairs. They are a marketing firm that just happens to make motorcycles.
They have been struggling for years because of their approach. They need to get back to concentrating on a quality product and let the market go where it will.
HD’s are crap.
HDs were like money in the bank, but it was largley driven by fad demand. The ride is over.
Maybe the Thais can make em without the oil leaks and the 3 lubricant oil change and having to cut off cylinder #2 when the engine idles in hot weather which makes for such a dreamy, smooth, and cool low speed riding experience, and the 30K top end rebuild, and the…….inhales large breath …….
Can they make so that they don’t sound like a Briggs and Stratton in need of a tune up?
The craze is over, do you know how many Harleys can be snapped up for a song?
Rusty chrome, 2 flat tires, a dead battery, sitting in a pool of oil.
No thanks, if I wanted an antique, wouldn’t buy a new one.
The boomers knees all gave out at the same time.
Harleys don’t leak oil, they mark their territory.
I’m currently saving up for the “Street Glide Satay” model…..
I never understood the desire to ride an overweight vibrating piece of shit that looks like everybody else’s overweight vibrating piece of shit. Then do it with “style,” a 1/2 helmet, no jacket, no pads, no shoes, and feet way in front to make sure you will never walk again when you drop it. Don’t ever wear ear protection either, hearing is for pussies. Meanwhile, realize you’re so cool on a Hogley that motorcycle laws don’t really pertain to you, just put your overweight vibrating piece of shit anywhere you want on the road. To ensure sudden death, make sure your attire is all black with no reflection, with HD logos all over because anything else is for wimps.
What’d ya expect when SADLY, the young, dumbass, know nothing shot callers heading the company have chosen a huge Indian cabal to cuck them?
Naturally, they don’t want tariffs. Infosys, by design, wants to rob us of a great homegrown company, either by possession or destruction. It’s asymmetrical warfare against America.
They have so far completely pussified the line that saved them, the Softail and eliminated the Dynas.
As I see it, the only thing that can turn them around is in the hands of the employees and stock holders who need to revolt before it’s too late. The company needs leadership, a TRUMP style leader.
And btw; They have been building superlative motorcycles since the 80’s. The paint and chrome holds up extremely well compared to the old days when a year of exposure would oxidize & rust the entire machine.
Also, speaking from life long experience, older Harley models were designed with total loss oil systems….if they didn’t leak oil there wasn’t any in it. That all changed when they went to final drive belts.
I find that those that trash H-D are doing so out of ignorance and overcompensation, you know like democrats when they trash everything that makes America Great because they’re pussies.
I’m with Bongo. HD makes a great bike…..I just won’t afford one….
I have a picture of my Grandpa on a 1938 model during gas rationing in WW11. That bike might be worth 150K today…
Used to call the v-twins from Japan “slant eyed harleys”. Now i can call Harleys that.
Harley owners have an attitude unequaled by any other motorcycle owner except for moto guzi.
Do they still give you a free metal oil pan to drip on when you buy one?
HD has only the ‘coolness’ factor to recommend it.
I bet they make their real money on licensed merchandise, parts and other crap.
Lazlo owned a 71 BMW/5 short frame back in the day.
Only work I had done was to replace the head cover when I had to lay it down.
It saved my foot.
Same thing happened to a pal of mine riding some ‘shovel head’ contraption.
He walks with a cane.
I didnt mean to insult all hog riders. I live in the black hills and we used to get hundreds of thousands of bikers during the sturgis rally in august and most came here with a road attitude of F you, I own a harley. Many died. Thankfully, the rally attendees have decreased and mellowed with age. The rally aint what it used to be.
Lazlo,
There’s nothing like the old Beamers, back in the mid 70’s when I figured out there was more to riding than local mountains & bar hopping, I wanted to tour the country, so I gave up my old Panhead and bought a used ’74 R90 with 20k miles on it…when I let it go in ’95 and switched back to H-D, it had 542,000 miles on it with nary a break down.
Although I don’t have the health, energy or finances to match my touring days, I gotta say the modern H-D can hang with the best of any touring machine out there.
There have always been “bikers” and there have been “enthusiasts”…for me, it’s never been about titties and beer.
And now a word from FZ:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvepB7uYoAo
I have a completely customized 96 heritage softail with the 1340 evolution engine. IMO its one of the best motors they ever made. These motors don’t weep oil and are very reliable. Harley in its wisdom changed the design since. I like doing my own work which is why I don’t want a newer model, screw all the sensors. But that’s just me.
Good job, HD – no doubt Indian motorcycles could use the bump.
harley is just as american as all the other socialist moochers.
bailed out twice. welfare is bipartisan. reagan bailed them out in 1987. obama in 2009. then again, in 2009, along with all the big banks, gm, mcdonalds, and verizon were also recipents of some of that sweet government cheese.
Another issue for Harley (and all manufacturers) in the US is a failure to attract millennials to the motorcycle hobby/lifestyle/obsession. With a high-end cruiser going for $48,000 it’s little wonder. Incidentally to date neither my Road King Classic or my wife’s Sporty has emitted a drop of oil.
The things shake at stoplights like a Mexican Space Shuttle.