Other Bikes » H-D production and sales drama

H-D is having production problems with their new LiveWire electric motorcycle as detailed in this article, which also includes an interesting news video that discusses H-D production and sales issues in some detail. The video also mentions how the EU tariff is affecting their sales:  https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/14/harley-d...otorcycles.html

More Harley babble.

https://investor.harley-davidson.com/new...s-sharpens-long

3rd Quarter results to be posted on 22 Oct

Given Harley's previous aversion to new technology, suspension, brakes et.c. their sudden conversion to electricity is remarkable. But as China is the largest market for electric vehicles perhaps they thought to get ahead of the biker curve and cash in. Unfortunately countless millions of $US later Mr Trump gets assertive. BMW, Honda and the others must be looking at this very carefully. I hope it works out for them.

Harley was masterful in creating a lifestyle experience for the 50+ folks. That was great in a day when a 50 year old was looking forward to his pension and SS check. Today, the current 50 year old is hoping he might see a SS check. That isn't going to buy many Harleys.

Harley doesn't have the in-house engineering expertise/knowledge to build a bike that can compete in the non-cruiser market. Their products will be overweight and relatively under-powered. As a case in point, the HD Street 500, Street 750 and BMW R1200R LC are nominally the same weight. The Harley 883 Iron is nearly 55-lbs heavier........

And then, we have the issue of the "assertive" tariffs that raised our domestic raw material costs by atleast 10%

This guy is always good for a little sarcasm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdPsnZSHf7g