| Author | Message | ||
     Rieguy187 |
who here works for harley davidson or buell? I have a few questions to ask if anyone could possibly send me in the correct direction? ThanX in advance, Ryan | ||
| Court |
Fairly broad scope. Many here are employees of dealerships. No one here is an employee of Harley-Davidson or Buell. Both companies have detailed and very restrictive policies about participation on the internet. Some may view, a couple may post under assumed names, none will fess up. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
i bet if you post your question, i bet you get an answer. court forgot to mention the "anonymous" voices heard from behind the curtain.  | ||
| Court |
I'm betting you will be hearing far less anonymous voices. The good thing is that badweb is as good a place as any on the internet to get good Buell advice. | ||
| Rieguy187 |
to make a long story short, there is a position available in the milwaukee R&D department that I'm interested in and know I'm over qualified for but harley's online application process isn't the best. I feel like alot probably falls through the cracks. just looking for a HR person to talk too. ThanX | ||
| Spiderman |
Have you tried calling up HR directly yet? No offense but, do you know you are over qualified? Buell MoCo hired a rocket scientist... | ||
| Mikej |
There are a couple of H-D employees who post here, they know where the line is to not cross though. There is at least one temp shop that places people in H-D on a temp-to-perm basis. I'd ask someone I know, but H-D has recently heavily cracked down on their employee e-mail system use and I'm not about to knowingly get a friend in trouble with their job. Your best bet might be to just follow their system and process. Or you might try to hand carry your ap to the reception desk and see how far that gets you. I trust that your computer and CAD/CAE skills are up to par. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
I don't know anything about the Motor Company's hiring practices, but as someone who owns both a Buell and a Harley, and can tell you without fear of cavil or contradiction that HD sure could use some help in the R+D dept. Of course if you are not thoroughly familiar with 1960's technology you just might be a bit over-qualified, or maybe under-qualified. Have to think about that one.  On the other hand, Erik Buell once worked as a Harley engineer, did a lot of work on the FXR, if memory serves. | ||
| Court |
Some of this is right, some is not. I'd call the HR folks and tell them you have an interest and would like to arrange a "pre-interview" (i.e. not interviewing for the position, but to learn more about the company HR policies to insure you are wasting neither your time nor theirs) and get informed. Be honest and be polite. If that doesn't work, therein lies a powerful message. Court | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
...HD sure could use some help in the R+D dept. stupid old Harley, oldest motorcycle maker in America, well into their second century of business, one of the oldest moto co's the world, survived two world wars, the depression, the onslaught of high-quality/low-cost Japanese motorcycles, just moments from bankruptcy during the bowling ball era they re-invented themselves without losing themselves, have subsquently had record profits for something like 80+ consecutive quarters, and continue to refine their product to dare i say world-class levels without losing what it is that makes a Harley a Harley. yep, they could sure use some help. FB | ||
| Court |
And . . .every $1,000 I invested in 1987 turned into $100,000 while I was riding my investment.  Yeah . . HD sucks. Harley-Davidson is an American success story . . pure and simple. These discussions all too quickly go Argumentum ad hominem. I've been the first to take the good folks to Harley-Davidson to task when and where I see places I think they could improve. I've not once, nor would I, cast the blanket pall over them. I dream, in my lifetime, of every being so successful. They are an amazing company and have been a pleasure to be associated with through good times and bad. Court | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Not to put too fine a point on it, but I do not believe I cast any aspersions on the Motor Companies financial acumen, or their ability to build a brand, which is second to none. With their sales down YTD 7%, ( compared to industry growth of 4%), and the price of their stock having declined almost in half in the last year, that would have been too easy. I merely alluded to the fact that from a mechanical point of view, my Harley Davidson is a rather blunt tool compared to my Buell, for the following reasons: In order to get performance out of my FXDX engine roughly equivalent to my Buell XB12, it needed: 1. Heads 2. Pistons 3. Ignition 4. Oil pump 5. cam shaft support plate 6. clutch 7. primary chain adjuster. 8. Oil cooler 9. Gear driven cams 10. Roller rocker arms 11. Air cleaner 12. Larger Carb 13. Heavy duty starter 14. Petcock. 15. Exhaust. The Buell merely has the normal air filter, ECM, and Drummer exhaust upgrades. Of course the Harley will never handle like a Buell, and I fully understand that it was never intended to. But the standard Harley uses obsolete damper rod front forks, very poorly damped rear shocks, overly soft springs, and undistinguished tires, so that it handles very much worse than it might. Even my FXDX which has upgraded suspension, needed a lot of work to make it go around a corner in a dignified, if unhurried, manner: revised fork set up, Metzler tires, steering damper, fork brace are a start. Ground clearance at moderate speeds is still a problem. One of the things that The Motor Company needs to do it to make sure their offerings continue to provide good value, and attract new, younger customers. Perhaps their reliance on a familiar past might prove to be an impediment to future growth. | ||
| Rieguy187 |
thanX for the advice guys | ||
| Court |
Send some of who ever you find to Ford as well . . . I notice that my F-150 lacks the crisp handling of a 911 Carrera. And why can't Ford . . . fully aware of the benefits of Composite Brakes, not make them an option like other companies . . . why do they make me go to Brembo for rotors and calipers! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Perhaps their reliance on a familiar past might prove to be an impediment to future growth. their refinement (and occasional re-definement) of a familiar past has been the very cornerstone of their success. ps: apologies to Rieguy for jacking your thread. good luck with Harley, hope it works out for you. (Message edited by jerry_haughton on March 11, 2008) | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Hmmm I walked on with no motorcycle industry experience. What do I know ? ;) Helps if you are a bonafide enthusiast and excited about the work, all the better if your resume is vetted. Good luck. | ||
| Buellshyter |
I've not once, nor would I, cast the blanket pall over them. I dream, in my lifetime, of every being so successful."} I don't know how many HD stocks you bought at $1000/share that are now worth 100K but it would appear you've done quite well. | ||
| Bill0351 |
I personally love the discussions that pop up about the future of HD. Everybody has an opinion. It's cool to play CEO on the Internet for a little bit. Some people get all crazy and defensive of the MOCO. Some people HATE the MOCO for making the bike they want so out of reach when it comes to price. I know it bothers me that a Vulcan Nomad is $11,500 and a Roadking is $17,800. My friend's Nomad ran great right out of the box and has gone 20,000 trouble free miles. My '06 Roadking was the worst bike I have ever owned. That overpriced, underperforming, unreliable POS made me extremely leary of ever buying another HD as long as I live. Then I bought my Cyclone, and I have never liked a bike more. Which makes me wonder... How is it that the 1125R is $12,000 and the VROD is $15,000? It seriously makes me wonder if the companies are even related. One of the biggest mistakes HD ever made (in my nearly completely uninformed opinion) is to not put a great big HARLEY DAVIDSON on the side of every Buell that leaves the factory. Black leather lifestyle meets performance! I don't see a downside. Bill | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
"Which makes me wonder... How is it that the 1125R is $12,000 and the VROD is $15,000?" With the VR, you're paying by the pound. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
My '06 Roadking was the worst bike I have ever owned. That overpriced, underperforming, unreliable POS made me extremely leary of ever buying another HD as long as I live. funny deal. the bike pictured in my profile, an '06 Road King, is one of the best bikes i've ever owned, 20,000 miles of smiles and counting. different strokes for different folks, but my RK is a keeper, and good on H-D for soon to be celebrating their 105th year of doing business. i still have my first share of Harley-Davidson stock when they went public in 1986. yep, one share, a certificate still suitable for framing. in retrospect, i wish i'd hocked everything i own and bought 1000 (or 10,000) shares. i've owned (and ridden the snot out of) a lot of bikes in my time. my Road King is my friend, and will never leave my grasp. FB | ||
| Rainman |
Uh, Jerry, aren't you maybe getting just a little bit too familiar with that Road King? Are you sure it's not a Road Queen? Just wondering. | ||
| Bill0351 |
Jerry, My RK hated me and the feeling was mutual. I tried SO hard to like that bike, and I threw a lot of money into it trying to make it run right. The GF vetoed my idea of an old shovelhead. She wants us to try another RK or EG in the next year or so. If the prices on used ones keep dropping, I might try getting my feet wet again with an older one. I'm glad you like your RK. Of the 10 or so bikes I have owned, my '06 was at the rock bottom of my list. I have a bike swap lined up for this summer with a friends '05 RK to see if I just got a bad (evil and rotten) one last time around. I still have a hard time seeing where HD hides the $6,000 worth of value over the Vulcan (besides the name on the tank and the waves from the other owners). If I do get another, and it is anything like the first, I will be done with HD big twins for the rest of my life. Bill | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
I still have a hard time seeing where HD hides the $6,000 worth of value over the Vulcan (besides the name on the tank and the waves from the other owners). for what it's worth, i wave to everyone, even scooter riders, and i try to wave first. can't answer the "value" thing for you. i've owned a lot of bikes, and traded an extremely competent Yamaha FJR1300 in on the RK. there's a certain "something" i get when i'm on a Harley (this is my fifth one) that i've never gotten on another motorcycle. not saying Harleys are better than other brands, but they're better enough for me to justify the cost of admission. sorry you got a "bad" one. can you elaborate on the problems you had? FB | ||
| Ftd |
'00 RK 60,000 miles 1 repair (idle control module) great bike No comparison to a Vulcan. It is like comparing a Rocker to a Bourget. Sort of the same bike right? No. (Message edited by ftd on March 12, 2008) | ||
| Ftd |
Road Sofa in Key West  | ||
| Clutchless |
since we are talking about how useless H-D's are, I will let the video do the talking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuQ1i1W0I2s&feature =related they sure are a buncha miss-guided bikes, but none the less have more character than any other bike. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Don't you just hate it when a thread gets highjacked by some insensitive Harley dude? I know exactly where you are coming from bro'. That's precisely why Blake has promised to start a Harley Topic so that the unwashed and unlettered can play in our very own Hog Pen, without anyone else being the wiser! Blake?  | ||
| Mikej |
The downside could conceivably be cultural. Could Buell people do what Buell people do within the walls of Harley-Davidson? Some answer with different answers depending upon their personal viewpoint and past/current experiences and future dreams/goals/aspirations. When Ford was developing the Pinto I'm sure there was at least one engineer in the powertrain department that wanted to stick a 429 in it. | ||
| Bill0351 |
Jerry, Here is a list of issues I had with my '06: Pulsing brakes (repaired) no neutral (never improved was told it needed to break in) front end wobble (repaired) squeaking brakes (at least they weren't pulsing so I just lived with it.) HARSH idle, ran HOT and popped on decel. (slip-ons/SE-AC/PCIII cured that, but fuel economy went to 35mpg) When it started spotting the driveway I put it in the paper for $12,500. I sold it to the first guy who showed up for $11,500 and got exactly what I owed out of it. I was never happier to see a motorcycle leave. If I had a similar experience with a bike from any other manufacturer, I would never consider another one. The same goes for a car. For example, I have owned only one Dodge in my entire life and one was enough. The problem is that there are all sorts of other companies that build cars. There are all sorts of companies that build motorcycles. There is only one game in town though when it comes to buying a Harley. If you want to be part of that whole scene, it's the only way to be admitted. So... Because I love my GF and I want her to be happy, I will probably end up getting another. She loves the whole scene, the lifestyle, and the gear. It's not important enough to me to do it without her interest, but I would be lying if I told you I didn't think it was fun sometimes. From my perspective, HD makes bikes that range from pretty good to marginal. When you consider the price of admission, both classifications fall down a notch. The ownership experience (if you enjoy that sort of thing) is OUTSTANDING! For lots of people that is worth the 25-30% premium over other comparable bikes from other companies. It is that aspect of the experience that HD has done better than any other bike sold in the US and probably the world. Bill | ||
| Cityxslicker |
GD Harley Riders, always showing off their big couches....  |
