Comments on: Harley Owners Competing with Harley Factory http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/ All Things Custom Motorcycles. Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:30:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: DEALER DAVE http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70986 DEALER DAVE Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:15:21 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70986 ALRIGHT, NOW'S THE TIME FOR THE REAL MOTOR COMPANY TO SEE WHO THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE !!. THEY WERE CATERING TO THE RICH URBAN BIKERS WHO NOW HAVE TO SELL THEIR BIKES SO THEY CAN PAY THEIR MORTAGE ! BOO HO. THEY WOULD ALSO SELL THEIR NEW "BIKER" TATTOO'S IF THEY COULD !!. HARLEY MADE THEIR DEALER'S BUILD BIG WALMART TYPE WAREHOUSES .NOW THE SERVICE SUCKS, THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS; AND THEY ARE OVERPRICED !! NOT TO MENTION THAT THEY PASS THE BUCK IF THERE EVER IS A PROBLEM. THEY DON'T PAY THEIR EMPLOYEE'S ENOUGH TO GIVE A SHIT. BOTTOMLINE, WHY WOULD I BUY A NEW HARLEY AND LOSE 25 % OF THE VALUE RIGHT OFF THE LOT ??? I JUST PICKED UP A ONE OWNER 2002 DRESSER (CLASSIC) ON EbAY FOR 8300 BUCKS ! SO CAN YOU IF YOU LOOK HARD ENOUGH. THE GOLDEN DAYS ARE GONE. HARLEY HAS TO WIN IT'S CUSTOMERS BACK. THEIR TRUE CUSTOMERS ARE DIE HARD BIKERS LIKE ME AND YOU HAVE BEEN RIDING SINCE WE WERE KIDS AND WILL DIE WITH A BIKE IN THE GARAGE. I FELT THAT 20 $ FOR A PRIMARY GASKET WAS TOO MUCH 20 YEARS AGO ! SUPORT YOUR LOCAL WRENCH, HE'S THE GO TO GUY WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU AND YOUR BIKE . WHEN YOU HAND HIM YOUR HARD EARNED $$$, HE WILL THANK YOU !!. AND QUESS WHAT, WE IS WILLING TO EARN YOUR BUSINESS. EVER GO TO A HARLEY DEALER AND HAVE TO WAIT 20 MINUTES BEFORE THEY NOTICE YOU ARE IN THE STORE ?? GUESS WHAT, EVERYONE HAS. NOW HARLEY AND IT'S DEALERS ARE FINIALLY LOOKING AROUND AND SAYING, WHERE THE HELL IS EVERYONE ???? WE ARE STILL HERE BUT HAD BETTER THROW IN A LEATHER AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NEXT TIME I BUY A BIKE OR I WILL FIND SOMEONE THAT WILL !! AND BUY THE WAY, HOW ABOUT THROWING A FREE OIL CHANGE JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT ! WILLIE G,, ARE YOU LISTENING ?????????????/. ALRIGHT, NOW’S THE TIME FOR THE REAL MOTOR COMPANY TO SEE WHO THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE !!. THEY WERE CATERING TO THE RICH URBAN BIKERS WHO NOW HAVE TO SELL THEIR BIKES SO THEY CAN PAY THEIR MORTAGE ! BOO HO. THEY WOULD ALSO SELL THEIR NEW “BIKER” TATTOO’S IF THEY COULD !!.

HARLEY MADE THEIR DEALER’S BUILD BIG WALMART TYPE WAREHOUSES .NOW THE SERVICE SUCKS, THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS; AND THEY ARE OVERPRICED !! NOT TO MENTION THAT THEY PASS THE BUCK IF THERE EVER IS A PROBLEM. THEY DON’T PAY THEIR EMPLOYEE’S ENOUGH TO GIVE A SHIT.

BOTTOMLINE, WHY WOULD I BUY A NEW HARLEY AND LOSE 25 % OF THE VALUE RIGHT OFF THE LOT ???

I JUST PICKED UP A ONE OWNER 2002 DRESSER (CLASSIC) ON EbAY FOR 8300 BUCKS ! SO CAN YOU IF YOU LOOK HARD ENOUGH. THE GOLDEN DAYS ARE GONE. HARLEY HAS TO WIN IT’S CUSTOMERS BACK. THEIR TRUE CUSTOMERS ARE DIE HARD BIKERS LIKE ME AND YOU HAVE BEEN RIDING SINCE WE WERE KIDS AND WILL DIE WITH A BIKE IN THE GARAGE. I FELT THAT 20 $ FOR A PRIMARY GASKET WAS TOO MUCH 20 YEARS AGO !

SUPORT YOUR LOCAL WRENCH, HE’S THE GO TO GUY WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU AND YOUR BIKE . WHEN YOU HAND HIM YOUR HARD EARNED $$$, HE WILL THANK YOU !!. AND QUESS WHAT, WE IS WILLING TO EARN YOUR BUSINESS. EVER GO TO A HARLEY DEALER AND HAVE TO WAIT 20 MINUTES BEFORE THEY NOTICE YOU ARE IN THE STORE ?? GUESS WHAT, EVERYONE HAS.

NOW HARLEY AND IT’S DEALERS ARE FINIALLY LOOKING AROUND AND SAYING, WHERE THE HELL IS EVERYONE ???? WE ARE STILL HERE BUT HAD BETTER THROW IN A LEATHER AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NEXT TIME I BUY A BIKE OR I WILL FIND SOMEONE THAT WILL !! AND BUY THE WAY, HOW ABOUT THROWING A FREE OIL CHANGE JUST FOR THE HELL OF IT !

WILLIE G,, ARE YOU LISTENING ?????????????/.

]]> By: B Rock http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70948 B Rock Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:51:27 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70948 Ride a Big Dog! Custom paint, custom seats, hundreds of up grades available. It is good to see the big boys suffering a little bit as well. A market wide slow down will just separate the strong from the weak. In the end I am sure we will all learn a few lessons. Ride a Big Dog! Custom paint, custom seats, hundreds of up grades available. It is good to see the big boys suffering a little bit as well. A market wide slow down will just separate the strong from the weak. In the end I am sure we will all learn a few lessons.

]]> By: Rodent http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70177 Rodent Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:27:30 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70177 Tom, not IF and a big IF Harley can get their shit together...and stop screwing their customers and dealers are customers also Tom, not IF and a big IF Harley can get their shit together…and stop screwing their customers and dealers are customers also

]]> By: Tom Goodrich http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70160 Tom Goodrich Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:17:28 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70160 Rodent, except that after-market parts will always be more attractive than the ones from Harley. Rodent, except that after-market parts will always be more attractive than the ones from Harley.

]]> By: Rodent http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70156 Rodent Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:44:32 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70156 You guys are right. If Harley would let dealers order bikes like Chevy lets their dealers order cars the individual wouldn't have to pay for parts twice....But look at it from Harley view..They sell twice as many parts on one hand....on the other hand you can buy the parts from an aftermarket company and Harley don't get the part sale.......Harley hates the after market people taking the bucks away from them, but, If you could custom order from Harley you wouldn't buy from an after market vendor. Harley though their supidity allowed the aftermarket to flurish do to there mismanagment.... Ya want to kill the aftermarket...Take care of your customers, stop screwing them, stop screwing your dealers(make them build buildings that they'll never beable to pay for and make a living). You guys are right. If Harley would let dealers order bikes like Chevy lets their dealers order cars the individual wouldn’t have to pay for parts twice….But look at it from Harley view..They sell twice as many parts on one hand….on the other hand you can buy the parts from an aftermarket company and Harley don’t get the part sale…….Harley hates the after market people taking the bucks away from them, but, If you could custom order from Harley you wouldn’t buy from an after market vendor. Harley though their supidity allowed the aftermarket to flurish do to there mismanagment…. Ya want to kill the aftermarket…Take care of your customers, stop screwing them, stop screwing your dealers(make them build buildings that they’ll never beable to pay for and make a living).

]]> By: Mike http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70141 Mike Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:58:49 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70141 Victory does a nice job with their custom order program. You can build the bike on their site and wait for it to come in! Victory does a nice job with their custom order program. You can build the bike on their site and wait for it to come in!

]]> By: J http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70117 J Tue, 22 Apr 2008 16:50:38 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70117 True, one way Harley CAN expand sales is to continue to develop products- i.e. the Brembo anti-lock braking system- that add value beyond a new color scheme now and then. Seriously, I've always found it asinine that Harley sells their bikes 90% finished; At the very least, enable a consumer to taylor the bike before a build- gee, like any car manufacturer will do- with reasonably priced upgrade packages and options ala carte, not wholesale CVO makeovers...... I don't NEED my original Road King Classic seat sitting around my shop, it sucked from day one, and I don't do Ebay. Had I the option to upgrade the seat as the bike was being built at the factory for $150, I would have gladly done so- what does it matter to the guy on the assembly line which chunk of leather, foam, and seatpan he's installing? As it stands, I now have $450 invested in another seat, and as a consequence, I'll hold onto the bike longer to amortize that extra expense in my mind; Gee, guess the Harley actuaries didn't ponder THAT scenerio.... lol. True, one way Harley CAN expand sales is to continue to develop products- i.e. the Brembo anti-lock braking system- that add value beyond a new color scheme now and then.

Seriously, I’ve always found it asinine that Harley sells their bikes 90% finished; At the very least, enable a consumer to taylor the bike before a build- gee, like any car manufacturer will do- with reasonably priced upgrade packages and options ala carte, not wholesale CVO makeovers……

I don’t NEED my original Road King Classic seat sitting around my shop, it sucked from day one, and I don’t do Ebay. Had I the option to upgrade the seat as the bike was being built at the factory for $150, I would have gladly done so- what does it matter to the guy on the assembly line which chunk of leather, foam, and seatpan he’s installing?

As it stands, I now have $450 invested in another seat, and as a consequence, I’ll hold onto the bike longer to amortize that extra expense in my mind;

Gee, guess the Harley actuaries didn’t ponder THAT scenerio…. lol.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70112 Kyle Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:34:48 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70112 Take a look at the big picture here poeple. Harley Has been ripping us all off for years. Harley decreases production because the "Young Urban Professionals" had taken a liking to the Harley "Image" and wanted to experience the freedom of riding, yadda, yadda, yadda. So us "common folk" no longer could afford a Harley since they were bringing upwards of 2 to 5 grand over list price. Not to mention that Harley has been turning out the same bikes year after year after year. How many "night Train" type versions can you have? But in typical Harley fashion they do what they do best, make copies of the same bikes they've had for years and charge more money for them. Thank god for bike builders companies like Cyril Huze, Big Dog, Victory, Eddie Trotta, etc who have made an impact in the bike world. Instead of turning out the same old shit they are leading the way and giving us "real" custome Bikes for our hard earned dollar. Harley Davidson needs a bit of a reality check and i hope the downturn we are facing in our ecomony teaches them a thing or two about "value". Not just what the almighty dollar can do for them. Take a look at the big picture here poeple. Harley Has been ripping us all off for years. Harley decreases production because the “Young Urban Professionals” had taken a liking to the Harley “Image” and wanted to experience the freedom of riding, yadda, yadda, yadda. So us “common folk” no longer could afford a Harley since they were bringing upwards of 2 to 5 grand over list price. Not to mention that Harley has been turning out the same bikes year after year after year. How many “night Train” type versions can you have? But in typical Harley fashion they do what they do best, make copies of the same bikes they’ve had for years and charge more money for them.

Thank god for bike builders companies like Cyril Huze, Big Dog, Victory, Eddie Trotta, etc who have made an impact in the bike world. Instead of turning out the same old shit they are leading the way and giving us “real” custome Bikes for our hard earned dollar.

Harley Davidson needs a bit of a reality check and i hope the downturn we are facing in our ecomony teaches them a thing or two about “value”. Not just what the almighty dollar can do for them.

]]> By: Ted http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70106 Ted Tue, 22 Apr 2008 14:33:51 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70106 This is a great time to buy a used bike and put the savings into customizing. The EVOs are an especially good value right now and I think the carburetor models will be collectors items soon. This is a great time to buy a used bike and put the savings into customizing. The EVOs are an especially good value right now and I think the carburetor models will be collectors items soon.

]]> By: Rodent http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70098 Rodent Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:43:32 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70098 Supply and demand will ajust the market as it does on Wall st. including pumping and dumping Supply and demand will ajust the market as it does on Wall st. including pumping and dumping

]]> By: Doc Robinson http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70093 Doc Robinson Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:26:07 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70093 If I wanted a touring model, I would not buy a second-hand model unless it was a 2008. The current models are vastly improved over the 2007 and earlier ones. This will be borne out in the second-hand marketplace as time goes by. If I wanted a touring model, I would not buy a second-hand model unless it was a 2008. The current models are vastly improved over the 2007 and earlier ones. This will be borne out in the second-hand marketplace as time goes by.

]]> By: Don Keiffer http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-70006 Don Keiffer Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:12:41 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-70006 Correct assessment about why it can get worse before the market improves. Correct assessment about why it can get worse before the market improves.

]]> By: Mike Tokson http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2008/04/21/harley-owners-competing-with-harley-factory/#comment-69978 Mike Tokson Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:54:26 +0000 http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/?p=1152#comment-69978 As always, a quite intelligent analysis. As always, a quite intelligent analysis.

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