Harley Davidson seeking new CEO

[PistolPeteSTL]

This story was released late yesterday- Harley is actively seeking a new CEO after Zeitz announces "voluntary" retirement. Zeitz has been a trainwreck for the company with repeat bad decisions. His latest was shutting the US factory for the Nightster, Sportster S and Pan America and sending them to Asia, which means they are a lot more expensive now post tarriffs. Especially the Nightster, which they dropped to $9,999 to compete with the Indian Scout and Honda Rebel 1100, is now going to be priced out of being competitive.

Add that to the debacle a couple years ago with their "Bud Light" moment and it's been too many bad decisions to keep him. Be curious if they bring in someone who actually knows something about motorcycles.

Outside of the engine and frame, most HD parts are imported as well- all the electronics, the wheels, starter, controls, etc all come from Asia. They kept shutting plans in the US and outsourcing and now that's going to bite them when it comes to costs.

https://finance.yahoo.com/about/pla...xecutive-jochen-155305874.html&ncid=100001128

 

[BigJimSlim]

I’d like to apply for the job.

They had a bold vision just a handful of years ago that would bring a handful of brand new models to the floor, including the Bronx. These were to be based on the sportster S’s powerplant and lean into the younger segment. Somehow, that vision was completely reversed and replaced by the idea of selling fewer, but more expensive, bikes.

I’m not a businessman by any means, but market expansion seems smart so long as there’s a pool of fish to catch. Seems the only people who hate ideas of Harley expansion are Harley owners, who put up enough of a bitch that the market shakes and the execs replan. I really can’t with these people.

I’m not in the market, but I’d love to see some HD options that compete against Triumph’s $10-$14k entry options that aren’t just a Sportster. The S is pretty cool (mostly) but it seems to fill a weird gap that misses the mark for a brand new rider.

 

[PistolPeteSTL]

It seems like Harley ceded the entry level market to companies like Royal Enfield, who makes a classic looking bike that young people can afford. The Interceptor / Meteor 650 platform fills that hole the Sportster filled for the last couple decades, until it was dropped.

Super curious to see where the new CEO takes them. Hopefully to a better place, I want a world where HD succeeds and isn't taken over by private equity because the stock got so cheap.

 

[Rufus]

As I briefly touched upon in a forum post last week, I had a chance conversation with a HD owner at a cafe. He was on a 2006 bike (Softail of some type). Anyway, he told me that he didn’t like the ‘modern’ Harleys, the look of them around the headlight and the overly wide rear wheels. Think he was describing the FatBoy/Fatbob style but I could be wrong. If I do see a Harley out and about it’s rare and never an ‘new’ one. So who’s buying them?

Over here, England, the market is swinging towards smaller capacity modern classic bikes in a big way. Adventure bikes, specifically the GS always do well but the larger engined bikes are generally in decline compared to a decade or so ago. Price has a huge part to play and the dealer network, especially where you happen to live.

Honda have gone aggressively after sales with their GB350S that is selling extremely well and their CB1000Hornet, both very keenly priced. Royal Enfield are doing very well with their whole range of 650’s and 350’s. People just don’t have the money to splash down on very expensive Harleys so something does have to give.

 

[425]

As I briefly touched upon in a forum post last week, I had a chance conversation with a HD owner at a cafe. He was on a 2006 bike (Softail of some type). Anyway, he told me that he didn’t like the ‘modern’ Harleys, the look of them around the headlight and the overly wide rear wheels. Think he was describing the FatBoy/Fatbob style but I could be wrong. If I do see a Harley out and about it’s rare and never an ‘new’ one. So who’s buying them?

Over here, England, the market is swinging towards smaller capacity modern classic bikes in a big way. Adventure bikes, specifically the GS always do well but the larger engined bikes are generally in decline compared to a decade or so ago. Price has a huge part to play and the dealer network, especially where you happen to live.

Honda have gone aggressively after sales with their GB350S that is selling extremely well and their CB1000Hornet, both very keenly priced. Royal Enfield are doing very well with their whole range of 650’s and 350’s. People just don’t have the money to splash down on very expensive Harleys so something does have to give.

All this is true regardless of the brand ..... just to add in Britain there is a big and maybe a massive problem where to keep the big bike.... most of the entrances to the back gardens in the cities is just 86cm wide .... in most of the houses there is no access from the road to the garden or whatever is there ....
High rate of criminal activities and limited Police force is another story .....

Harleys are expensive, and we are not so Ok economically and many look for alternatives.
just my two cents ....

 

[BigJimSlim]

The foothold, or maybe stranglehold, Harley has in the US is immense. They’re the Kleenex of motorcycles. “Yeah, I have a motorcycle…” “oh, is it a Harley?” They are everywhere here.

 

[R2K]

Two ways to attract women have a puppy or a Harley.

 

[Mr. Efficiency]

I almost went to work for The Motor Company as management; who knows ? Will I have to get thug Dyna back (I traded it for my R18 because my GS was essentially worthless ) It’s a shame their market keeps shrinking; I do love them.

 

[Flash2004NZ]

One of the best bikes I've owned was a 2014 Switchback 103" engine. I sold it to buy a R18 classic, then a R1250GS, now the R18B. Arguably the Switchback was a better ride but rose tinted glasses and all that.