Originally Posted by Jupiter Sunsation (Post 4658594)

My neighbor's dad has bought a new Harley every year for the last 25+ years. Same model (Road King) and from the same dealer. 2 years ago he got a new one and it didn't have a CD player but an IPOD cord and navigation instead. He rode it for 5 months and the next spring he went back to the dealer and asked if his old bike was still for sale (it was). He traded back and took his last years model back (CD player and no navigation). The rear tire was thinner on the new bike, he didn't like that either.

He said he has bought his last Harley Davidson. Now imagine the 40 yr old execs at HD trying to figure out why they have lost all future sales to a very good customer! Now add in the guys that are too old to ride, too cheap to upgrade to a new bike and you will get the picture of why HD is in so much of a slump. Don't get me started on the idea of making the bikes in Asia instead...............that was simply crazy talk!

Originally Posted by BUP (Post 4658588)

Alot of outboards have to be pulled away from the transom to be worked on for room. Sometimes its a must for steering cable replacement even for single engine apps. removing the outboard away from the transom. Even pontoon boats single engines at times because the room is poor but NOTHING like I/Os very limited room.

IMO stag I/Os are great to worked on. Twin or more outboards can be limited room to work on. I really do not work on outboards but prob can hold my own. I work on only about 5 outboards per year. But 2012 and back when I had techs -- we would see about 200 outboards per year. Johnson / E rude - Some Suzukis 2 and 4 stroke - Mercury 2 strokes - very few 4 strokes- alot of Optibombs aka optimax. a ton of Yamaha;s 2 stroke - HPDI - V Max and few 4 strokes. -- Keep in mind 4 stroke outboards really took off sales wise in the past 6 to 7 years. 2 stroke outboards are dead period.

If 4 stroke outboards did not make this huge push and advancements -- I do not believe their sales would be huge like they are currently.

The execs are probably still trying to figure out when they offered a Road King with a CD player, or how someone has been buying a Road Glide for 25+ years when they’ve only been available for 23..... Either way, they’re not trying to figure out how the new rear tire was thinner, as they’ve been 180 aspect ratio on touring models since the frame changeover in 2009. Your neighbor’s dad needs to ease up on the medicinal herb! Same can be said for the executives at H-D if they think they can keep cutting corners and acquiring a new client base. Seems like every month there’s another recall or TSB with Harley posted on the net, and that negative feedback sticks around a long time. Like forever. Unlike I/O sport boats, the used Harley market is ripe with bikes right now.

Originally Posted by VoodooRob (Post 4658691)

Jupiter, H/D hasn't actually built a bike in the USA for many years, they are assembled in the USA. Currently and in the past, bikes that are assembled here have components shipped in from manufacturers all over the world. Wheels, suspension, brakes, electronics, even engine components. I'm in the motorcycle industry and recall an article that the Honda Gold Wing was more "built in the USA" than current H/D, let that sink in. Honda moved that production back to Japan about 10 yrs ago.