HD to layoff 1,100 and close some facilities

Harley announced a significant layoff - cutting 1,100 positions and closing / consolidating a few locations. It's really not a surprise - HD and the Japanese companies have all been suffering from poor sales. The Japanese companies had already announced major production cutbacks - to the tune of 20% or more.

All the dealerships are struggling to sell new units - esp. the larger, more expensive bikes.

My cousin was telling me about a buyback program Harley is doing. They taking sporters and giving MRSP at the time that you bought to bike for trade-in on a larger bike. Sounds like a great deal. But it also sides like a company desperate to move inventory.

Bikes are one of those things a lot people will part with when faced with losing thier car or house. So there are plenty of deals to be hand on slightly used bikes for those interested in purchasing one. And really, saving a few grand on a bike with only 3K on it is a smart thing to do right now. In better times more people would be willing to spend that money for one that is new and "thiers".

Hopefully we can pull through and HD can hire these people back. Supposelly it is one of the better companies to work for in the US.

they did the same thing about 15 years ago it was aimed at the newbie rider if you bought an 883 sportster and traded it in on a bigger model they gave you full retail on your trade in it worked pretty good as made it easy for people to get in to big twins

HD have been battling to increase their sales for several years. The problem they have had is that pretty much everyone who wants a Harley, already has a Harley. It was this effect that spurred their efforts to market more to females about five years ago.

Unfortunately, they are almost victims of their own success. Because their bikes really haven't changed much, and everybody "customizes" them, there really is not much incentive for someone who owns one to go out and get a new one. With a few exceptions (Vrod), they can hardly make the claim that you need to buy this year's model because it is "bigger, better, faster", etc than last year's!

That said - I really would like a 2008 Versys!

i think huey insaneairbrush works at the kc plant

Soon Harley may only have the T-shirt factories running.

well...i guess it's time to attack another evil empire....that allways beats fixing things here at home.....why build roads and bridges and schools and invest in college incentives and small buisness...when you can be making back room deals with the major industry leaders to build v-10 super duty pick ups that go back and forth to the grocery store at best....then when everyone who wants one has one ...knock the bottom outta the stock market and ensure bailouts.....meanwhile lets take pos houses that wont pass inspection and inflate em to about 400,000 minimum so the average working twenty somthing newly weds can rent from the rich their whole lives...it's called serfdom by the way and starts revolutions....lets make the jonses pay 3/4 of their income on a house payment.....what's that you say....oh....that's why no one likes us...or buys our stuff....hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

have no fear young un,the new sherrif is gonna save us all!:laugh:

oh and by the way ....can you imagine any motor company who sold 50 year old technology for top doller in mass....being in buisness....cars no longer come with a crank start on the front bumper....and driving by the ford dealer the other day i did'nt see any rancheros,
or falcons on the lot.....HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

this just in suzuki discotinues re-5 and water buffalo in favor of bold new models....sound crazy....think about it..

if harley would have built a vr-1000 and kept on the development curve with it ten years ago...their would be a line to buy em from detroit to L.A......look at ducati,b.m.w,shit look at buell for that matter he had to go begging overseas for a motor....

hey i don't like to see those folks go without work and get hurt...i'm mad is all....i feel a huge sucking sensation from the spiral drain under these times.....i better go shoot some protected species and blow off some steam...rant over

dont worry weve been through tougher times and somehow we always manage to survive!

PLUMMEN wrote:

have no fear young un,the new sherrif is gonna save us all!:laugh:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Yep!