texanrt
New member
Based on the economy and the demographics of HD's customer base, this news does not surprise me.
The numbers in their financial statement indicate that this is a necessary move.
Although I have never been an HD fan it would be sad to see this iconic American motorcycle company disappear. I personally shall follow this with interest.
I still regularly visit some of the HD dealers when I'm running around town keeping my Softail battery charged. The showrooms are quiet these days. Back in 2006, when I bought my Softail, my dealer employed a half-dozen salesmen, several ladies working the clothing lines, and at least two or three parts/accessories guys. Yesterday, I stopped by to find out the story on the Road Glide -- another HD "touring" bike that has been "customized & lowered" for 2010 -- and found only a few people working. The line of bikes waiting for service is much shorter these days. The number of new and used bikes sitting on the floor is growing. Some of their used bikes are now "marked down" -- something you wouldn't have seen a few years ago.
During the last 10 - 15 years, Houston's Harley dealerships expanded from 2 original dealers to 7 -- each had to build a huge fancy building to house an enormous inventory of goods in addition to the bikes.
Sad to say, but the business plan HD developed over the last dozen years was built for the good "high growth" economic times -- the dealers that bought in during the high times are going to be stuck with some expensive real estate and high overhead. I don't think they're all going to make it -- like so many other industries -- we're going to have to adapt to the "new normal" which is much like the "old normal."