| Author | Message | ||
     Two_buells |
Tell It like is is........ Too Cool! Harley ran this ad after the NY Times ran a story recently documenting Harley's problems.  (Message edited by Two_Buells on March 31, 2009) (Message edited by Two_Buells on March 31, 2009) | ||
| Bprigge |
That add actually inspires me! | ||
| 4cammer |
Is this an April fool's joke? If not, good for them. | ||
| 4cammer |
Wow....guess this is real. http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2009/03/harley-f umbles-response-to-new.html not too nice of replies here. | ||
| Oddball |
Old ad was better, it didn't attack the reader like this one which basically asks 'Are you a wussy, or do you ride a Harley like a Real man'. http://z.about.com/d/motorcycles/1/0/Z/L/-/-/Harle yAd.jpg  | ||
| Buell920 |
I love the NY times one. the only thing that got my attention was " Or do you seize the Throttle and give it a fearless twist Forward" ? I would think they mean backwards. | ||
| Court |
>>>I would think they mean backwards. Too funny . . . that's the first thing I noticed! | ||
| Oddball |
Yeah they didn't pull off trying to convey 'fearlessly moving foward' well. Fearless twist would have worked fine. Just be glad they don't have thumb throttles. Imagine the imagery they'd have conveyed then. "Do you succumb to fear and doubt or do you extend your thumb and give it a fearless thrust forward?"  (Message edited by oddball on April 03, 2009) | ||
| Wilcom |
Yep, the guys that wrote that ad would shut down a nice sportbike company like Buell..... Buells just didn't have enough chrome for them or was it that the Buell jackets were WITHOUT fringe and tassels..... come on Harley which was it ? | ||
| Two_buells |
I'm embarrassed for posting that back than! | ||
| Eweaver |
With their lack of oomph, it is a "fearless twist". | ||
| Eweaver |
"American companies and good old American ingenuity wrenching the life back into this economy..." How about Eric Buell and The Elves which had the carpet yanked out from under them? | ||
| Buell2001b |
HD is full of it, its all a marketing strategy. HD does not really say what they mean. HD did a pearl harbor on Buell | ||
| Realstreet |
yeah you'll find them wearing blue collars just like the 180 employees that were making awesome bikes that people actually like. i went to the "last ride" and it was sad. i had the chance to talk with a lot of great people that used to make our bikes that now have to try and find another job. if harley is so broke where did they find the 120 million to shut down buell? this whole deal just disgusts me. i will never buy a harley. | ||
| Qcbrob |
here's a little twist on that "screw it" ad: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RFBal6oo--A/SeiWANo4uuI/ AAAAAAAACQQ/o-WT5PTDVmE/s1600-h/Screw_It3.jpg | ||
| Conchop |
HD=BS. Corporate suits talking out of both sides of their mouths. If they had real guts, Buell would be brought up just like HD was in the early 80's. Their sub prime financing doesn't reconcile with their brave advertisement. This management team and board need to go. | ||
| Gohot |
Qcbrob that is a bit more apt of the way we feel, and the part of including us in their campain now that we are needed to make their point. HD has lost more than Buell, they have lost CREDD and Loyal customers. | ||
| 4cammer |
Wow, that is excellent. Thanks Qcbrob, made my am..... | ||
| Transmaniacon_mc |
Look H-D corp. Is bleeding money on there way to going broke closing down the whole H-D brand and dealerships. They are shutting down and closing a lot of there own manufacturing parts of Harley-Davidson. H-D may be looking to try to do a quick bankruptcy as GM did closing down the whole company. They are running out of money to operate the Giant H-D company. When they lose sales of bikes during the 3Q summer time when people are buying motorcycles to ride in good weather the 4Q fall 1Q winter when bike sales are pretty dead they are really going to be losing money. They did not close Buell because they wanted to get rid of it they closed it because they do not have money to operate Buell manufacturing. It's all about the MONEY right now for H-D just to keep it's self going. | ||
| Blake |
Bullshit. | ||
| Conchop |
It is all a reality check. They screwed up when they did the sub prime lending gig. Production forecasts are always required to go up. Utilizing bad business [ sub prime lending ] practices to force the numbers up when the bad writing is on the wall is a recipe for disaster. Reality in sales forecasting is dangerous to the forecaster. Greedy bastards at the top don't want to hear the numbers are going to go down and they will fire any naysayers and replace them with young and dumb "yes men". Despair sets in and the sales creativity always end up with cooked books and forecasting. Bad business. That is why I say the top of the HD management team and the board of directors need to be fired and replaced. Total quality management is for all in the organization. | ||
| Shartley |
Perhaps, like the phoenix, Buell will rise out of the ashes much stronger. Don't give up hope yet, guys! | ||
| Mog |
 The perfect picture of HD Corporate Management........ eating their children! Nobody in business ever does what they do not WANT to do. If you have principles, you man up and walk away. Conchop is right on. They ate Buell because it was internally acceptable, expedient and covered self imposed losses. The move was premeditated and accomplished a 125 million dollar write down. They can actually reform BMC any time they wish. Their arrogance and malfeasance will keep their pillion padded long enough to find some personal/executive wiggle room, somewhere. Although it is business, it is hurtful to those who put in faith and effort to BMC. Maybe a FUHD ride to HDHQ in June 2010, of Buellers would be cool. | ||
| Court |
>>>They can actually reform BMC any time they wish. Actually that's inaccurate. | ||
| Mog |
 Oh? How so? | ||
| Conchop |
I figure it's a done deal on a dead duck. Corporate insiders will only spend the money when they are assured a return and even more in this recession. They messed up so they think they're doing the right thing. I see it all as a wasted opportunity for American industry. Somehow, I hope that Eric can continue with his impact on the machine. If his lineup can somehow, magically reappear, and a good dealer network can be established, then we'll all be a lot happier. As I look into my crystal ball, all I see is red. | ||
| Slypiranna |
Sorry, I don't care for HD business methods. Just because you remain in business for over a 100+ years doesn't make you correct. | ||
| Conchop |
DAMN - the "we don't do fear" advertisement has a reverse image of the HD. How ironic is that??? I think that the the management team is out of touch with their customer base in a very big way. Nothing but a series of insults to us all. | ||
| Red_chili |
Fixed it for them: Screw HD. Let's ride. I will never, ever, buy an HD product. | ||
| Vicfirebolt |
Honestly it seems odd too me too put out such an add after cutting out 170+ American workers jobs. Lame. |
