Page 13 of 16
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:08 am
by zarakand
bok wrote:i shall now attempt to hijack this thread to a new topic....
Are your neighbours motorcycle haters or a cool people?
i rarely see mine and one wants to buy the little ninja so i guess they are both somewhat cool.
LoL I never imagined this would become such a long drawn out thread, and was just looking to get share some of my irritation. I haven't run into my neighbors again, other than to see his empty boxes clogging up the hallway. Eh, maybe he rides, maybe he doesn't. The apartment offers indoor parking, and he's got a car there no bike so chances are no.
Oh well, 11 more months of schooling and then I'm free I'm free! (Sadly not really...stupid masters program)
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:08 am
by Bachstrad37
Harley is taking on India as a large potential market. Offices are being setup there to facilitate sales. To be profitable in a world market, like GM, Ford, and Chrysler, HD will need to investigate the location of assembly plants. What will the India marketplace be like? I do not know firmly, but they're beefing up in their IT assets. With wealth, they'll be able to afford more riches such as a Harley in its current state.
If indeed India is to be successful in terms of volume sales, I'm inclined to believe that HD should seek out going beyond the cruiser as their golden egg for India. Their roads are nothing like American interstates which made HD cruisers so successful. Who knows what Indian infrastructure will be like 50 years from now, but strategies change with time.
HD is wildly successful in the States due to their cruiser base and being one of the first and never losing grip. The sheer size of American roads helped.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:08 am
by -Holiday
jstark47 wrote:-Holiday wrote:back on subject, kinda:
why does harley even need to make the bikes themselves all that competitive with the japanese and euro bikes? I mean, such a huge percentage of the revenue comes from non-bikes sales...............Harley has no pressure to make their bikes better then the competition as long as they keep selling those hats, and stickers that go on the back of pickup trucks.
I think this "huge percentage of revenue from non-bike sales" has become a bit of an urban legend. Let's take a look at Harley's 2005 business results. Gross revenues from sales:
Harley Davidson bikes: $4,183,500,000 78.3% (yeah, that's 4
billion )
Parts and Accessories: $815,700,000 15.3%
Merchandise (includes Motorclothes): $248,900,000 4.7%
Buell bikes: $93,100,000 1.7%
Miscellaneous: $2,000,000
There's also $191,600,000 in operating income from Harley Davidson Financial Services.
248 million bucks from clothes, hat, stickers, etc. is nothing to sneeze at, but it's less than 5% of their income. The lack of pressure to make the bikes 'competitive' (assuming one accepts the premise of that statement) comes from the demand for the bikes themselves. More than 325,000 bikes shipped in 2005, somebody sure wants them. Harley is a cash engine at the moment. Whatever you think of their bikes, branding, etc, there's no doubting their business acumen so far. Hopefully the management will continue to make correct business decisions.....
hmm, admittedly, ive never looked at harley's financials. So much for that philosphy! maybe there was some other reason the older harley's were sub par when it came to reliability and performance.
Then again, I have a vintage vespa, and it requires more work to stay running then anything on two wheels i've ever seen. They're still in business too.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:10 am
by zarakand
NorthernPete wrote:are we done yet?
2 years and counting on this site, and that horse just keeps getting routinely beaten once a week.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:12 am
by NorthernPete
POor Mr ed..... geeting a beat down like that...
This thread has to be getting close to fastest growing longest thread in the forum eh?
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:15 am
by bok
hijack attempt part deux
since Mr. Ed is a great name for a beaten horse...what should the name of the TMW dead horse be?
i shall call him "Brillant"
*typo of Brilliant is for those who also read thedailywtf.com
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 10:15 am
by Bachstrad37
And thanks to Zara, the beating will continue...least for today.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 11:37 am
by DieMonkeys
My neighbors on one side is a couple that goes out riding on a pair of matching bikes, full gear. Next time I see them I'll check what kind of bikes they have (want to say suzuki). And across the street the neighbors' son comes by to visit on his Nighthawk 650. Then a few houses over from their house the dude has a harley, but I never see/hear him ride it. He just puts it on a trailer on saturday then he's washing it on sunday afternoon. Uses diapers to dry it.
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:06 pm
by earwig
DieMonkeys wrote:My neighbors on one side is a couple that goes out riding on a pair of matching bikes, full gear.
If they are using full gear chances are they do not ride Harleys! Most HD riders are in jeans, a tshirt or leather jacket and a fake helmet around here
Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 2:21 pm
by yoda731
Said another way...
