| Author | Message | ||
     2003xb9r |
Looks like they're interested in putting in a bid for Ducati from VW group. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-duca ti-m-a-idUSKBN19C1XX | ||
| Hootowl |
Please no. Oh wait. They'll pour more money than they ever spend on Buell into it, %^#@ it up, and I'll be able to buy it from them for a couple of Euros next year. You know, if history is any guide. | ||
| Hootowl |
"lining up a takeover bid for Italian rival Ducati" Rival? In what world are HD and Ducati competitors? | ||
| Tq_freak |
Rival? In what world are HD and Ducati competitors? if you squint really hard and have maybe....7 beers the V-rod and Diavial? Still a far stretch to call them rivals | ||
| Macbuell |
Please god, no. Although if you are fan of sport touring they might come up some nice saddle bags with tassels that can fit on your Ducati. | ||
| Chauly |
Italian Conchos! | ||
| Chauly |
H-D is more likely to ruin the Diavel than Ducati is likely to improve the Sportster. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Word is HD is going to bring back some of Ducati's lesser-known models:   | ||
| Sifo |
 | ||
| Nuts4mc |
why develop a dirt tracker when they can buy one?...a bean-counter's nightmare they (HD) should support a racing program!...silly boys  | ||
| Chauly |
They should be buying Guzzi!   | ||
| Ffbuell1 |
Harley should forget about buying Ducati, and instead profusely apologize to Erik Buell and bring him back on and this time let him do it his way, especially now that Harley is losing big time not only in market share but in flat track and drag racing . | ||
| Hootowl |
Yes, that's what they should do, and if they had any brains, they would. And Erik should tell them to pound sand. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. | ||
| 86129squids |
Just ran across the MC Daily piece- had to be careful drinking my coffee whilst reading the comments! They're AWESOME. http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2017/06/harley-davi dson-reportedly-among-potential-bidders-for-ducati / | ||
| Hughlysses |
And Erik should tell them to pound sand. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Or Erik should get the same lawyers who told him NOT to sign his initial contract with HD to write him a new, iron-clad contract, giving him 100% complete control over design and marketing for Buell. I imagine the odds of that ever happening are about 1 billion to 1. | ||
| Froggy |
I take it you haven't been to a Duc dealer lately, they clearly are competing to see who can sell more branded t-shirts and wallets. Instead of chrome coffee table coasters, the Duc's are carbon fiber. | ||
| Hootowl |
No significant overlap between the carbon fiber coaster customer and the chrome coaster customer.  | ||
| 2003xb9r |
But the carbon fibre coaster would be lighter than the chrome one so should be faster. It should also handle better in the twisties. | ||
| Hootowl |
Not necessarily true. The coasters are plated in China, and are of such poor quality that they actually weigh less than the carbon fiber model. | ||
| Terrible |
I was just visiting some Ducati forums.All I can say is they have an interesting view of the whole thing. | ||
| Pwnzor |
So, one motorcycle company that makes products I'll never buy again is going to buy another motorcycle company that makes products I'll never buy again?  | ||
| Court |
>>>I imagine the odds of that ever happening are about 1 billion to 1. Are we keeping you from an Optimist Club meeting? | ||
| Tootal |
The technological geniuses at Harley, that can't make a decent compensator nut for their big twin engines, will probably turn their efforts into figuring out how to chrome carbon fiber. | ||
| Glitch |
If the H-D techs were having a hard time with Buell engines, imagine going to your local H-D dealer to get your Duc's heads adjusted... | ||
| Glitch |
or valves or whatever,  | ||
| Aesquire |
I hate to tell you this, but they can chrome carbon fiber. It's not classic Chrome over Nickel which is almost gone ( pollution ) but bright electro spray/sputter, which is as good as it gets in the 21st century. I wouldn't worry about HD using it much, though. Zinc sprayed bright chrome look stuff is cheaper, and helps maintain the road hugging weight that HD seems to love. Personally, I hope for Ducati lover's sake this doesn't happen. The folk at the Motor Company could ruin a wet dream. | ||
| Tootal |
If you ever look down on a 916 it's shaped like a torso of a woman. By the time Harley gets done it will look like a crushed beer can!  | ||
| Cyclonedon |
Harley already owns the Buell Motorcycle Company. If they would only start producing them again, the would sell great! | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
Motorcycle manufacturing is not a very profitable business. HD investors would be better served using their profits to invest in Amazon, etc. | ||
| Steveford |
The rank and file at the MoFoCo is not going to be pleased. https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2017/04/21/harley-davidson-layoff-118-jobs-cut-york-pa-plant/ (Message edited by SteveFord on June 26, 2017) | ||
| Glitch |
 Build two million new Harley-Davidson riders in the U.S. | ||
| Ourdee |
I think HD got beat out by Hero. | ||
| Teeps |
Looks like Harley-Davidson will not be buying Ducati. http://www.cyclenews.com/2017/07/article/companies -line-buy-ducati/ The most publicized of which has been Harley-Davidson, however, according to the Reuters report, they have pulled out of the race to own Ducati after balking at the valuation, which Reuters sources say has reached $1.4 billion in some buyout funds. Monster 797 might be back on my list... |
