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Jayvee
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 06:39 pm: | 
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$67 MM in bandannas and t-shirts ain't too shabby either...
Lots of companies would love to be in that position.
Anybody got the revenue from just Buell, have we passed the Motorclothes Collection yet, as a contributor to overall revenue? |
M2nc
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 06:55 pm: |
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I want to know how many 06 Ulys were sold! |
Snail
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 09:41 pm: |
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I'll give Dave a call, thanks Blake, after I posted I realized I could have found a dealer on my own, but I wanted to get in a shot for Modesto.
Hot in Texas? Mid seventies, low eighties here...day after day...come on up and ride my Buell. |
Jlnance
| | Posted on Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 10:21 pm: |
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read on the thumper board, that the white blast, is a signifier that Buell will discontinue the Blast.
I don't believe that Buell has officially said that. EZ did post it, and he does know more than most. Still we won't know for sure until the 2008 dealer meeting.
Get yourself one. You'll love it. |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 02:12 am: |
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You are always welcome amigo. It got up over 100F for the first time a few days ago. I can dig it. Will be heading northwards tomorrow for camping/hiking/visit family and friends excursion driving up the Blue Ridge Parkway and ending up in western NY state.
Keep the S3 in good tune, I'll be up that way again for sure some time.  You gotta let me adjust your suspension though. |
Snail
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 09:27 am: |
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Keeping a Buell 'in good tune' is an oxymoron, but we sure can dial in the suspension.
Have fun on your ride, next time turn left instead of right when you go North. |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 03:13 pm: |
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Unfortunately this vacation won't involve much if any riding. We're taking the Ford Exploder up the Blue Ridge Parkway then heading through PA and to SW NY state.
My Buell has always been in good tune.
BTW, ditch the race headers/exhaust. They don't live on the street. One actually tried to attack me once. No lie.  The stock headers have been bullet proof. Or ask Road Thing how to maybe fix the race header issues.
See you back online in a couple weeks. |
Diablobrian
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 06:42 pm: |
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Have a good vacation Blake! |
Curtyd
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 08:33 pm: |
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BTW, it has been 20 years or so now, but HD's turnaround after the AMF days is a case study in graduate business management programs taught by the likes of U of Miami and Harvard at their business schools.
So I wouldn't accept BUELlGRRRLL's abject downside characterization so readily either. They did what they needed to do then when on the brink of "BK". They and BMW are the only bike makers that didn't get wiped out by the japanese manufacturers in the 60's and 70's.
The japanese just have to look over their shoulders to China and the other Asian tigers, and then be worried about their own "places at the table."
What exactly is she saying? They aren't innovative enough because their product is low-tech? That is one of their innovations, a marketing/sales innovation but none the less it has worked well for them, that and the quality process control manufacturing management implementations that happened to completely upend their factories and assembly lines and business methods.
I wonder if she knows anything about that or is it just visiting a HD dealer and looking at their "old-style" bikes. |
Bigdaddy
| | Posted on Friday, July 21, 2006 - 10:35 pm: |
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Buellgrrrl has many valid points and I'm willing to bet the business forecasting crew at HDI are very aware of all of her points and many others that normal people wouldn't think of.
Long-term HD owners/riders/operators know that the HD market has made a dramatic shift in the past 3/4/5 years. The secondary market has softened up; it's still there but it's far from what it was from the 1990 FLSTF to about 2000. You could purchase any of the big twin EVO'd rides and put 20K miles, a few pieces of chrome, cheap Cycle Shack pipes and move it on the first day of your For Sale add for a 20% (min) profit -- those days are gone.
They, HDI, didn't make the AMF buyout, and subsequent turnaround, such a huge success by being stupid so I suspect they're a few steps ahead of us.
I do wish they hadn't killed the secondary sales market,,,those were some good days.
G2 |
M2nc
| | Posted on Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 09:58 am: |
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What is different now than twenty years ago is that Harley was not coughing up 300,000 bikes a year. I remember the days when HD dealers did not have any new bikes at the dealerships. Today the market is saturated for the bikers and wannabees. Also twenty years ago the japanese and other makers had no clue on how to make a cruiser, today they are bigger and better and the only thing that keeps Harley going is the name. The name will carry them for some time to come but understand that other domestic makers are now in the market and they are quickly becoming the bikes of the wannabees. Harleys are no longer the "Big Dog" of that sector. It is a paper tiger and Harley sooner or later will have to compete head to head with other makers in this market and with their "limited" (in range not numbers) exposure in the two-wheel market leaves them vulnerable for a quick fall.
"Quick Fall" - Production out runs demand, dealers stuck with last year's stock and start discounting bikes, resale values plummet, stock prices fall and Harley lays off thousands. Harleys become the "Cheap" bikes, the profit margins are gone, people realize that $600 leather jacket is also made in China and start buying their do-rags elsewhere (I am already here). The signs are all around. People are customizing their bikes of all makes, the culture is changing where riding something other than a Harley is not only acceptable the opposing side is quiet boisterous and gaining momentum.
Buellie Gurls analysts is only a forecast and is as reliable as the weather, but sometimes the weatherperson is right. I for one hope Harley sees this and keeps trying new ways to keep riding the rave. To do this, new and improved products are a must and that is happening. They have updated their larger bikes this year and continue to fine tune their present products but to me it is okay to keep the present linage and break out into new ones. Buell's attempt into the Adventure Sport arena was to me very successful. The V-Rod world wide was very successful in the power-cruiser market. But here are some ideas...
What would be wrong with a Dual-Sport Blast? I mean a real trail blazer!
A top of the line Supersport? They have a good chassis now, just needs the motor.
What is wrong with having a Touring version of the V-Rod. As the V-Rod complements that Dynas, let a Touring version complement the FLHs. Now you have a powerful, watercooled state-of-the-art Touring Bike. If you keep the size down to no larger than present FLH, it would become popular world wide.
What would be wrong with revamping the Sportsters and making them more powerful. Ditch the 883 and replace with a 984. Get the exhaust and other tidbits up and out of the way so it could have a 40° lean angle. How about a better frame that is lighter. A 495#, 100hp, six-speed Sportster with handling and braking and traditional rider's position. Add HD's typical great fuel mileage and it too would be popular world wide.
Let Buell build Brankin's sport tourer. But make it a real barn stormer. XBRR with luggage and all day rideability. In this market you conquer or loose money so you have to go all out. If not make a touring version of the present Firebolt but keep the price and investment down.
What would be wrong with a Buell that would fit between the Blast and the XB9s. A true middle weight with typical Buell chassis and a middle weight price of no more than $7000 dollars. |
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