Harley Davidson CEO Forced To Resign.

[70 copo]

My local HD dealer here had some vintage bikes on display in addition to the show room and the separate brand and accessory sales building. The policies put in place by Harley last year forced them to surrender the franchise due to new requirements to build a brand new dealership facility- an edict coming directly from HD.

The dealer now sells Royal Enfield and lawn equipment. Sad but true.

I do not understand how making it harder for people to access your product in a regional area, to see it and buy it can actually increases sales?

[Crush]

Like many on this site I have had a few Harleys, currently have one left. I was going to purchase a new one about a year and a half a go and visited a few dealerships. I found the culture of sales tactics, border line arrogance was less than desirable. Now I can negotiate with the best of them but these guys left me feeling like my business doesn’t matter, take it or leave it .The days of standing in line virtually for an HD are long gone and I suspect their market segment will continue to shrink.

[70 copo]

Originally Posted by Crush

Like many on this site I have had a few Harleys, currently have one left. I was going to purchase a new one about a year and a half a go and visited a few dealerships. I found the culture of sales tactics, border line arrogance was less than desirable. Now I can negotiate with the best of them but these guys left me feeling like my business doesn’t matter, take it or leave it .The days of standing in line virtually for an HD are long gone and I suspect their market segment will continue to shrink.

Almost like the company decided to tell its core buyers, hey we do not want your business any longer. Not bright if you are going to stay in business and keep paychecks coming to folks who work for the company.

Part of the recent plan to re invent HD? "We hate our legacy customer" Makes you wonder.

[Zedder]

I've owned 4 HD's in the last 4 years...all vintage. Just sold my last one (65 Police Special 2 weeks ago). Thought about buying new, but I just don't relate to the styling of those bikes and I too find the current sales approach a turn off. Hipsters sales people who "Jam" sporadically on the dealerships instruments that are set-up more centrally on the sales floor than the bikes! I was talking to one of them about a new Nostalgia last year when they broke into a song and I couldn't hear a damn thing the sales rep was saying!!!

[markinnaples]

I respect HD as they lead the cruiser industry forever, but I just could never get into the "HD or Nothing" mantra that everyone was chanting a few years ago. I remember going to a bike night when I had a Ducati and not one of the HD guys would even talk to me, not to mention that I have no idea how each owner of a black Harley could find his bike in the mass of black ones.

I still wanted an American-made big cruiser so I bought a Victory Vegas. I loved that bike, but when I got married and had my son, I sold it. Just too dangerous with the antique drivers (the people not cars) where I live. Maybe another someday, but since they canned Victory in lieu of Indian, even they lost me. I'll check one out when the time comes, but that whole deal stunk it up too.

[Zedder]

Did the same thing Mark. Rode all thru the 90's until my son was born and packed them in. Started up again in 2015, but like many things...it isn't the same as it was back then Riding now is 10 times more dangerous then it was in the 90's...

[Crush]

Originally Posted by Zedder

Did the same thing Mark. Rode all thru the 90's until my son was born and packed them in. Started up again in 2015, but like many things...it isn't the same as it was back then Riding now is 10 times more dangerous then it was in the 90's...

The texting and driving makes the odds of getting picked off much higher. I bought a Jeep, take the top off and me and my wife enjoy the experience almost as much as riding our Harleys.
Who knows tho, I may get a weak moment and buy one!

[Zedder]

My driveway in 2016 and the 65 I just sold...

[Crush]

Originally Posted by Zedder

My driveway in 2016 and the 65 I just sold...

That 65 is sweet!!

[Zedder]

Thanks Crush. This one was even nicer, but not nearly as rare as the tank shift bike...