Harley Davidson strike- What you think
News said that Harley let go 3,000+ employees, due to strike.
Will this hurt Harley, forcing the union out?
Will this hurt Harley, forcing the union out?
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No, not noticably. Had you rather see Harleys built in China or Mexico? 0 -
Hehhehe.......
This has GOT to be screwing with the "I'm anti-union, but LOVE my American made motorcycle" crowd's mind!
I love it!
Merc0 -
I recently talked to a guy that is employed at the St Louis plant. He is payed $45/hr to bolt exhaust systems onto motorcycles. He says their primary complaint is that HD is not providing free healthcare. Poor mistreated fellow. 0 -
Harley isn't made in America.
Harley is 'put together' in America. Taiwan, China, Japan, Germany, manufacture a lot of the parts.
And yes, I'm still anti-union.0 -
I suppose if they made the rest of the Harley in Japan or Mexico we could get them for a more reasonable price. But, I do think the reason folks buy them is because of the perception that they are "American Made!"[:0][:0]
Japanese bikes are 7K cheaper in many cases, that difference goes to pay for the Union Wages and Benefits.[:0][:0]0 -
+1 sig 0 -
Harley-Davidson - a $10,000 bike with a $25,000 name. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by meunke
Harley isn't made in America.
Harley is 'put together' in America. Taiwan, China, Japan, Germany, manufacture a lot of the parts.
Here we go again. More know-it-all BS from somebody who doesn't own a Harley and has probably never been closer to one than sniffing the seats on a few parked outside a biker bar. [:D]
The frames, complete engines, complete transmissions, complete primary drive assy., and all the sheet metal parts are manufactured in the USA by Harley Davidson. A lot of the peripheral parts are of foreign manufacture. The box you show is a Japanese-manufactured Keihin carburetor that HD used to put on their bikes. They were crap and nobody left them on for any length of time, usually replacing them with an American-made S&S carb. Today Harley has no carbureted models, they're all fuel-injected. The front-ends, brakes, wheels, and electrical components are also foreign.
Your statement that, "Harely isn't made in America, Harley is put together in America" couldn't be farther from the truth. But then, you probably already KNEW that.0 -
"Here we go again. More know-it-all BS from somebody who doesn't own a Harley and has probably never been closer to one than sniffing the seats on a few parked outside a biker bar."
- Heh. Actually, I generally stay away from jazz lounges, Dillards, wine bars and Starbucks (where most Harleys end up being parked by their owners in Kansas City.) [8D]
*oops, almost forgot, you see a lot of them on the Country Club Plaza too. I also didn't realize how many 'outlaws' live in high rise, gated communities.0 -
Kansas City? Well that explains a lot. How many Harleys park outside your favorite gay bar? [:D]
With a Harley engine & transmission plant in Kansas City you still believe they're only "put together" in the USA? Don't get out much, do ya?0 -
"With a Harley engine & transmission plant in Kansas City you still believe they're only "put together" in the USA? Don't get out much, do ya?"
- Yes, I do. On both counts, actually.
This is not simply a beef I have with Harley Davidson. Any product that says it's made in the US but uses a good amount of import parts is rather misleading.
As for gay bars, I wouldn't know. However, lots of Harleys being there doesn't seem as too far a stretch as an individual fully outfitted with Harley-approved apparel (chaps, jacket, pants, etc.) is approximatly one zip-up hood away from the 'gimp suit' look of that guy who slept in the box on "Pulp Fiction." [8D]0 -
Toddle off now and zip around in your little Japanese car. You'd best leave this motorcycle talk to the men with hairy arms. [^] 0 -
Come on now Lowrider, you have to admit lawyers, architects, engineers, computer geeks and others have lately kind of tarnished the Harley mystique. You do see them parked at the fern bars as often as the cowboy bars. Of course where I live 90 out of 100 are ridden by hispanics. Guy in Arkansas told me there ought to be a law against that. 0 -
"Toddle off now and zip around in your little Japanese car."
Korean, actually. (Hyundai) Still under warrenty and never had any problems. :P
In spite of what I post, I think the only thing that really get's to me about HD it is that a 40 something accountant buys the bike, as well as hundreds of dollars worth of 'official' clothes to wear while riding it, and then suddenly considers himself a 'b@d@ss biker', 'outlaw' or 'rebel'. Nevermind the fact that he can't be an 'outlaw' because he has simply purchased this marketing tailored persona straight from a factory catalog. Nor can he be a 'rebel' because middle class society smiles on his new 'look' as highly desireable.
He hasn't changed anything. He is still a 40 something accountant, just with a LOT less money and now wearing a full cow worth of leather stampped with marketing slogans. People like this are fake.
I have the same opinion of average people who purchase a 'Navy SEALs' T-shirt off of EBay and suddenly think they're total 'b@d@sses'. And in case someone thinks I'm playing favorites, I also look the same way on 90lb white highschool kids who let their pants sag, wear their hats sideways and put a stupid can muffler on their '97 Honda Civic and think they're 'gangstas'. It's ridiculous.
Add to that the fact that when people build a product that uses a good number of foreign made parts and engineering (it is my understanding the BMW helped remake their engines at one point) and says it's made in the USA, I don't care for it. Call me a purest, but that's just the way I look at it.0 -
1) Let 'em starve.
2) Buy a BMW.
D.0 -
The average HD buyer is almost 47 years old and has a household income of about $80,000. 0 -
seems like the former employees should be happy now...no job with no benefits (exclude unemployment freebies) is better than a high paying job with some benefits?????????????? bet the union officers are drawing a paycheck....seems like chrysler went thru this years ago....company lost money for years then when the first quarter of profits the union goes on strike.....people need to learn that soon there will be no jobs but burger king as the last vestige of america's manufacturing heritage goes overseas to be competitive... 0 -
if i made you brownies and put juuuust a little bit of dog crap mixed in with it, would you rave about my brownies and blindly buy them?
crap is crap. brownies are brownies.
either its a 100% american product or its not.
mix the two and you get crappy brownies.
[;)]
case in point...japs make browning and winchester designed guns. (M-12, M63, etc...) they look and feel like the real thing, but they are stamped made in japan. they fetch 1/3 the cost of a real one. yet harley raises the price on their product with jap parts in them?
heck, why not offer diehard riders an ALL AMERICAN $$$$ version and a cheaper JAP MIXED BAG bike?0 -
What do you ride? 0 -
The market is saturated. It's all downhill from here IMO. H-D should be thankful that those "yuppie bikers" that their die-hard demographic hate so much paid top dollar for the bikes all the time that they did. Those "yuppie bikers" kept up the demand and pricing. The tide has been turning for sometime and H-D can no longer rely on just their marketing/merchandising abilities to stay in the green. Time for H-D to take a close look at what the big three American automobile manufacturers are currently going through. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Lowrider
What do you ride?
BMW
Wore out 2 Harleys. First was a '73 FLH. rade it almost daily until '80 when I traded it in on a FLH which I rode for 145,000 miles.
Got off of 2 wheels for a few years due to an agreement with the USMC, couldn't take it with me where they sent me.
A few short years ago woke up and had the urge to get back on 2 wheels. Got on line to the H-D website, built and priced a new ElectaGlide, left off the fancy stuff I never had before, no radio, no anti lock brakes, no cruise, no fuel injection, came to $16,500 or so. Thought that wasn't bad so called the local HD dealer to see about getting on one. They informed me that they didn't care what the factory website had to say, it was gonna cost me $23,000 plus tag, title and taxes, oh and there was a 6 month wait.
Drove over to the BMW dealer, paid just over $18,000 for a bright shiney new K12LT with all the goodies, cruise, fuel injection, power antilock brakes, GPS, real nice stereo, CB, extended warranty, power windshield, alarm system, heated grips and seat. It handles better than any Harley I've ever been on, faster than any Harley I've ever ridden (except for that 106 inch shovel I built for a buddy in '82), smoother, gets beter fuel mileage (like I realy care about that) and draws women better than any Harley I ever had.
Now got to admit that '80 FLH was more comfortable and I still like Harleys but will probably never own one again. I can leave that BMW about anywhere with the key in it and it'll still be waiting for me when I get back, ain't so with the Harleys, someone always looking at them wrongly.
I'd say that strike will probably hurt trailer sales as much as anything.0 -
Ok, so I like the looks of the old shovel and iron head Harleys, but I can't justify paying what they bring. So, I completely rebuild and BUILD a 74 Honda 750 chopper. Rigid, 21 inch, springer, stepped seat, flat fender, forwards, the whole deal. It's DEFINITELY got more american parts and time in it than 90% of the Harley's around here... What does that make IT? I still call it a jap bike, but for the $2200 I spent making it into a rider, I get TONS of american supporting enjoyment out of it. The 33 year old jap 750 in it has never been apart, uses NO oil and runs like a scalded cat and WILL outrun the frame, the brakes and the RIDER! It's all about the enjoyment and the ride boys... Everyone can tsk, tsk about the showa forks on the Harley and Hiroshima engine in my chop, but when it comes down to it, it's about the ride and the FREEDOM of CHOICE our great country has provided us! I'm proud of my country and proud of my bike! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Doug Wilson
1) Let 'em starve.
2) Buy a BMW.
D.
Well said!0 -
Ride what you choose to ride and as far as the "let them starve" post, real class. [8D] 0 -
I ride a Yamaha 1100 V-Star -thanks for asking. I love to ride and if the only thing available was a moped, that is what I would be riding. Yes, my bike may be a Yamaha-Harley - I'm just don't want a Harley/Harley bad enought to pay for one.
I have a hard time really taking sides (pro or con) with unions. However, if you work for someone and see them making huge profits and your compensation package stays about the same - I really can't blame you for thinking maybe the company could spread the wealth a little more.
Of course there are limits - look at the shape Ford, GM & Dodge are in.
And personally, It makes me laugh to see Harley buy components from Honda subsidiaries (keihin). And of course that leads to more funny stuff like; these components are crap on a Harley (but great on a Honda), everybody yanks them off to be replaced with american stuff anyway and the best one, It is OK to spend $ 16,000 - $ 20,000 on a bike knowing full well it comes with faulty components that you're going to replace right away.0 -
The only people I know who badmouth somebody else's brand of motorcycle are non-Harley riders talkin' crap about Harley Davidsons. I ride with people on all different brands of bikes and I have damn little negative comment on any of them unless they're some junker that causes the rest of group headaches by always breaking down. It strikes me funny that riders of other brands feel the need to criticize Harleys, and it strikes me funnier yet to hear this crap from people who don't ride at all. 0 -
I just like getting a rise from you Lowrider.[}:)] We would get on just fine out on the slab. Might purty bike your putting money on. 0 -
That's OK lowrider, we'll crank um up and have a good time when the weather turns. By the way, I have a harley and a 1300 Yahama. [:D] 0 -
Gee a guy buys a Harley and spends 3 times more than it's worth and then gets all indignant when it is pointed out.
For being big tough macho men they sure do yet their panties in a wad easy.
I know a Harley rider. She's actually a nice person but not a badass.
AC0 -
I got yer "wannabe" hangin' way low. 0
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