Harley & "woke"

[ISP-FL]

So I read that the Harley tent at Sturgis this year wasn't very busy and some were blaming it on the company's new DEI policies. Apparently, they interviewed Vinny, the owner of Pappy's Vintage Cycles in Sturgis. He claimed that a lot of Harley owners are switching over to Indian and he thinks Harley is committing "branding suicide" by their corporate "woke" policies.

Personally, my 2019 TG is my last motorcycle I will ever own. Anything the company does or doesn't do will not affect me one way or the other. As long as I can still get any OEM parts I need my bike will still be on the road.

I'm not saying Harley couldn't get too radical one way or the other to really make me mad. Several years ago when some NFL players thought it was a good idea to start kneeling for the National Anthem I stopped watching my Chicago Bears for almost 5 years. I didn't serve my country from age 17 to 57 so a bunch of non-patriots could disrespect it on national TV. I still only watch an NFL game occasionally to this day.

I'm just an old retired guy. I get up every morning and put on a Harley tee shirt. On the rare occasion that I have to be slightly more presentable I will wear something else, but probably 350 days a year I wear Harley branded shirts. But if Harley ever does anything that I would consider disrespectful to the U.S.A., or our constitution, I will have no problem throwing each and every tee shirt in the trash.

 

[nucseal]

So I read that the Harley tent at Sturgis this year wasn't very busy and some were blaming it on the company's new DEI policies. Apparently, they interviewed Vinny, the owner of Pappy's Vintage Cycles in Sturgis. He claimed that a lot of Harley owners are switching over to Indian and he thinks Harley is committing "branding suicide" by their corporate "woke" policies.

Personally, my 2019 TG is my last motorcycle I will ever own. Anything the company does or doesn't do will not affect me one way or the other. As long as I can still get any OEM parts I need my bike will still be on the road.

I'm not saying Harley couldn't get too radical one way or the other to really make me mad. Several years ago when some NFL players thought it was a good idea to start kneeling for the National Anthem I stopped watching my Chicago Bears for almost 5 years. I didn't serve my country from age 17 to 57 so a bunch of non-patriots could disrespect it on national TV. I still only watch an NFL game occasionally to this day.

I'm just an old retired guy. I get up every morning and put on a Harley tee shirt. On the rare occasion that I have to be slightly more presentable I will wear something else, but probably 350 days a year I wear Harley branded shirts. But if Harley ever does anything that I would consider disrespectful to the U.S.A., or our constitution, I will have no problem throwing each and every tee shirt in the trash.

+1 Right there with you!

 

[bikerbillone]

Yes I've read that about Harley, What on earth can this CEO be thinking? This is Harley business suicide. There aren't enough LBGT people to support Harley.

 

[Notgrownup]

It’s like all the other brands really, they are going Global woke. It’s really a trend. They pander to the minority… I’m 59 so I might buy another trike after this 21 but it might be another brand.. who knows.

 

[ultrafxr]

This CEO needs to go - the sooner the better. Motorcycles aren’t like other ‘consumer’ products and management must understand and ideally be a part of the culture to be successful. Obviously he ain’t.

 

[dwalt68]

I won't purchase from harley anymore, to damn high anyhow, when I get a new ride it won't be through any harley enterprise.

 

[Z06tacoma]

I’m like the OP. My 2018 triglide may be the last I own. I even had 10 shares of HOG stock for a while in my piddling stock account I played with. But with the latest news, I had to sell and move the money in capital mutual fund that I hope rebounds.

The progressive trend of Harley and many other businesses does worry me some. Not that I want to discriminate against anyone but they need to earn their place in society by also respecting those others who don’t think like them.

The future is in some troubling times.

 

[BikerG]

Harley is ‘Bud Lighting’ its way to failure.

 

[DK Custom Products]

We've made a couple of videos about HD going in on the ESG program. Sad state of affairs. Here's one of them-



And check out the crazy stuff on the Harley website at the 3:35 mark in the video below-




Kevin

 

[ISP-FL]

Something interesting happened in my area recently involving the owner of our local Harley dealership. It may or may not be related to Harley going WOKE, but it makes me suspicious.

Several years ago Bert's Black Widow Harley (Port Charlotte) began a huge expansion. They built an outdoor covered structure with a large stage next to a new "Twisted Fork" restaurant. They have a continuous supply of live music plus the restaurant is one of the best around. After all of that was completed, he revamped the dealership buildings. He turned an average dealership into probably the nicest Harley dealership in Florida IMHO.

The owner of Bert's just announced the opening of a new dealership. They are selling Indian and Triumph motorcycles only!

 

[DK Custom Products]

Something interesting happened in my area recently involving the owner of our local Harley dealership. It may or may not be related to Harley going WOKE, but it makes me suspicious.

Several years ago Bert's Black Widow Harley (Port Charlotte) began a huge expansion. They built an outdoor covered structure with a large stage next to a new "Twisted Fork" restaurant. They have a continuous supply of live music plus the restaurant is one of the best around. After all of that was completed, he revamped the dealership buildings. He turned an average dealership into probably the nicest Harley dealership in Florida IMHO.

The owner of Bert's just announced the opening of a new dealership. They are selling Indian and Triumph motorcycles only!

Very interesting!

Kevin

 

[TFNC]

My 24 Tri Glide Ultra is my last Harley that I’ll ever buy. I like the Trike when I’m with my wife but I see myself picking up a cruiser for for when I’m alone and it will not be a Harley. Especially after I heard Harley is moving manufacturing overseas.

 

[ISP-FL]

My 24 Tri Glide Ultra is my last Harley that I’ll ever buy. I like the Trike when I’m with my wife but I see myself picking up a cruiser for for when I’m alone and it will not be a Harley. Especially after I heard Harley is moving manufacturing overseas.

I couldn't agree more with your statement. I can still remember when I rode my 2016 Trike home from the dealer. I didn't really like it and immediately missed my Ultra. My wife loved the Trike and to this day whenever it rolls out of the drive she wants to be on the back of it. I transitioned after a while and it was okay. Probably 80% of the miles on the Trike are 2-up riding.

However, the day she quits riding I would probably change back to 2 wheels.

 

[Z06tacoma]

 

[TFNC]

Too little too late. Secondly, I call BS.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

I couldn't agree more with your statement. I can still remember when I rode my 2016 Trike home from the dealer. I didn't really like it and immediately missed my Ultra. My wife loved the Trike and to this day whenever it rolls out of the drive she wants to be on the back of it. I transitioned after a while and it was okay. Probably 80% of the miles on the Trike are 2-up riding.

However, the day she quits riding I would probably change back to 2 wheels.

I felt the same way when we got our 16 trike, I disliked it so much that I wouldn't ride it solo. 1 year later I picked up a 2002 Road King for my solo riding. I have grown to like the trike, but I still prefer my Road King for riding solo.

 

[Jd1a]

DEI "function", BERGs, sounds like mumbo jumbo. Let's see what the actions are.

 

[Notgrownup]

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see

 

[JTJersey]

Found this on Foxnews.com: Harley-Davidson slams brakes on 'woke' policies after sparking biker and social-media outrage

"Harley-Davidson slams brakes on 'woke' policies after sparking biker and social-media outrage"

 

[Notgrownup]

I’m not switching to Indian.

 

[ROAD DOG]

I’m not switching to Indian.

THATS YOUR PROBLEM !

 

[Notgrownup]

THATS YOUR PROBLEM !

Not a problem . This CEO will move on. We’ll be talking about Assless chaps, fingerless gloves and oil choices pretty soon. I’ll buy a Goldwing trike before a Indian.lol

 

[ISP-FL]

When Anheuser-Busch committed their "branding suicide" for Bud Light, I had several close friends who only drank Bud Light. Most of them switched to another brand and never went back.

Switching the brand of a $20 case of beer is one thing, dumping a perfectly good motorcycle for another brand is a totally different statement. I honestly think if Harley continues down the WOKE road, then the best way to protest it would be to stop buying their tee shirts and other junk they sell in the dealerships. I'm guessing they make as much if not more off their marketing products than off the actual sell of new bikes.

 

[ultrafxr]

I’ll believe they are serious when they give Zeitz a one way ticket to Germany.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

When Anheuser-Busch committed their "branding suicide" for Bud Light, I had several close friends who only drank Bud Light. Most of them switched to another brand and never went back.

Switching the brand of a $20 case of beer is one thing, dumping a perfectly good motorcycle for another brand is a totally different statement. I honestly think if Harley continues down the WOKE road, then the best way to protest it would be to stop buying their tee shirts and other junk they sell in the dealerships. I'm guessing they make as much if not more off their marketing products than off the actual sell of new bikes.

Harley dealers make most of their money from service, parts and clothing. Shops average about 20-25 % off any bike, so a $35,000 trike they will make around $8700. So, if they just sold bikes, they couldn't stay open.

 

[BikerG]

I bought my last Harley. This has nothing to do with Harley's DEI policies as much as the fact that I already have two Harleys in my garage.

 

[LD-Ordie]

I don't like any of this Woke shit, but the latest HD thing will probably not change anything I'm doing.

 

[tourman]

Not a problem . This CEO will move on . We’ll be talking about Assless chaps, fingerless gloves and oil choices pretty soon. I’ll buy a Goldwing trike before a Indian.lol

Smart move, Goldwing trikes are awsome!

 

[trike lady]

I vote with my wallet. If I don't like what a company is doing and its BS, I will not longer patronize their business or buy their product. I used to have an occasional Bud Light and it is now Tecate.

 

[Notgrownup]

Smart move, Goldwing trikes are awsome!

That said. It probably won’t happen