Movin on out......

[520fd]

Just heard on the news tonight that Harley Davidson, an American Company is moving some

manufacturing overseas. Well there goes Harley Davidson. Down the tubes.

I know they have some parts made in foreign countries and installed here. But Manufacturing?

Also on another note: Went to the open house at J&P Cycles in Anamosa, Iowa Sunday. They usually have a lot of venders, custom bike show. free food. Not that many venders there. Didn't see any custom bike show. What was really shocking to me was, when my wife and I were eating our free meal. We were eating in their warehouse. The warehouse was completely empty. This placed used to be full of great stuff. Not any more. I probably won't be back. What a shame.

 

[MDO]

Good to know about J&P Cycles. I actually considered riding up to that, but bad weather kept me away.

 

[Jack Klarich]

J and P to me has not been the same since MAG filed bankruptcy

Sure is a shame

 

[520fd]

J and P to me has not been the same since MAG filed bankruptcy

Sure is a shame

Yah. Every time I go up there, I have to order the item I'm wanting. Probably not going there any more. 3 hour ride for me.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Same here, the one in Holly Hill close to Daytona is only 80 miles from me but almost never stock what I need

 

[joem]

I'm curious to see what hardcore Harley fans think about the move to Thailand by Harley Davidson. Can't say American made by Americans any longer. I know businesses have to make a profit as I'm a small business owner myself but it seems that the greed for money overpowers the sprit of America. What a shame.

 

[Old Road Dog]

Friggen Cowards

Like POTUS said-they raised the white flag without a fight.This "war" is just getting started and the U.S. will win.The E.U. needs us more than we need them.50 years supporting the MOCO and now I'm done with them.I don't care what happens to them.They brought this on themselves.MAGA or death!

 

[Old Road Dog]

Potus just slammed HD again!

Not gonna build motorcycles overseas and import them here without a big tax.Ever since LevaDouche took over the MoCo they've been circling the toilet bowl. Remember when those Patriots bought H.D. from AMF?Everybody celebrated,Customers ,Dealers,Suppliers.This current crew has shown its true colors and it ain't red,white and blue.They gotta a yellow stripe on thire backs and an E.U. turd flag on the front.Screw these pussies.

 

[Papa Zook]

Just heard on the news tonight that Harley Davidson, an American Company is moving some

manufacturing overseas. Well there goes Harley Davidson. Down the tubes.

I know they have some parts made in foreign countries and installed here. But Manufacturing?

From what I have read, this will be a shift of production only for bikes sold to the UK which accounts for 10-15% of total sales, done in order to get around import tariffs. Much of the supply is already coming from out of country HD facilities. It should not drastically affect HDs bottom line or US operations, as these factories already exist.

As always, the liberal mainstream media is hyping it up by spinning it as yet another negative on Trump policy. I am with Trump and agree that our goal must not be just Free trade but Fair trade. Germany has already caved to Trumps tariff pressure on Mercedes who has agreed to remove tariffs on US cars and trucks imported into the EU. This one-sided tariff policy has always been unfair against the US.

Like him or not, Trump is paving new ground with long needed change in how American is treated in our trade deals with all our foreign trade partners. He is not one to cave, not one to make idle threats, that is his strength. Look at North Korea. He is winning and winning and winning.

Also on another note: Went to the open house at J&P Cycles in Anamosa, Iowa Sunday. They usually have a lot of venders, custom bike show. free food. Not that many venders there. Didn't see any custom bike show. What was really shocking to me was, when my wife and I were eating our free meal. We were eating in their warehouse. The warehouse was completely empty. This placed used to be full of great stuff. Not any more. I probably won't be back. What a shame.

J&P Cycle is part of the Mag Group and declared bankruptcy along with many other Mag Group companies. I posted an article on this a while back. There is close to a billion dollars of debt and suppliers that fronted them merchandise in the past have had to cut them off until a settlement has been made.

 

[Rev J]

From what I have read, this will be a shift of production only for bikes sold to the UK which accounts for 10-15% of total sales in order to get around import tariffs. Much of the supply is already coming from out of country HD facilities. It should not drastically affect HDs bottom line or US operations, as these factories already exist.

As always, the liberal mainstream media is hyping it up by spinning it as yet another negative on Trump policy. I am with Trump and agree that our goal must get not be just free trade by fair trade. Germany has already caved to Trumps tariff pressure on Mercedes and has agreed to remove tariffs on US cars and trucks imported into the EU. This one-sided tariff policy has always been unfair against the US.

Like him or not, Trump is paving new ground with long needed change in how American is treated in our trade dealers with all our foreign trade partners. He is not one to cave, not one to make idle threats, that is his strength. Look at North Korea. He is winning and winning and winning.

J&P Cycle is part of the Mag Group and declared bankruptcy along with many other Mag Group companies. I posted an article on this a while back. There is close to a billion dollars of debt and suppliers that fronted them merchandise in the past have had cut them off until a settlement has been made.

To quote my dad, "You got that right!" I feel the same way. Give President Trump a chance before throwing him under the bus. Some folks want him to fail so bad, just ain't funny. In the mean time I'm just gonna keep on riding.

 

[Jack Klarich]

trump has already begun to reach out to talk with H D again

Hope it goes well

The MSM is posting and yammering how this has hurt the union workers at HD

We will see how this pans out soon

 

[Papa Zook]

I wouldn't bet against Trump, his record has been strong so far.

 

[joem]

In President Trump we as Americans finally have someone in office that has some savvy when it come to negotiation. America has been abused far to long. Time to anti up.

 

[Wmitz]

It’s about time someone has the balls to tell the rest of the world “level the playing field”. For the last 20 years or so politicians have been giving the country’s integrity away. US products have higher tariffs, it was a political move to help developing nations and bolster the world economy. What those idiots in Washington did was basically put everyone else first before caring about this country and it’s people. Sound familiar, just look at how they put illegal immigrants on a pedestal and overlook the vets and the millions of homeless children in the country. Rant over.....

 

[v4bob49]

As was stated by Papa Zook, Harley is moving some of their production to overseas facilities to avoid the import tariffs that will be imposed on bikes sold in the E. U. which would increase the cost of a new bike by an average of $2200. This is only good business sense. They can't afford to ignore the European market, and those tariffs would make it much more difficult to compete. Harley has already been assembling bikes in Brazil and India for some time now, so this is not a new policy. They will just increase production from those plants to ship to the E. U.

It is important to remember that the media are very much prone to hype stories like this without including all the details. Harley-Davidson motorcycles sold in the US will still be made in the US by union workers. Of course some of the parts and components are imported, but is this not the case for pretty much all American companies that build and sell vehicles here? Does Polaris build Indians with 100% American made parts?

Should H-D ignore the global market for motorcycles and concentrate on selling only to Americans with 100% American made components? I don't think they would be in business for very long if they did that!

 

[Jack Klarich]

Should H-D ignore the global market for motorcycles and concentrate on selling only to Americans with 100% American made components? I don't think they would be in business for very long if they did that!

Very good point

To further that answer, Harley has been business smart for years

They have used Showa front ends for years, also jobbing out many other parts to global vendors

Any good business would do the same to survive

That said, take comfort in knowing The York Assembly plant will still be building bikes for the US market

 

[Bikerbozo]

Here's an interesting thought. If 15% of H-D's produced were sold in Europe and they move just that production there. Then that means 15% fewer bikes made here. Sounds like layoffs in the future to me.

 

[v4bob49]

Here's an interesting thought. If 15% of H-D's produced were sold in Europe and they move just that production there. Then that means 15% fewer bikes made here. Sounds like layoffs in the future to me.

Yes that does sound like there could be layoffs if 15% of production is moved overseas which would be unfortunate for those workers. But the other thing to consider is: If H-D keeps production for European sales here which would make them subject to the additional tariffs, what percentage of sales would they lose because of the higher cost to purchase a new Harley? This could still result in layoffs and it would also negatively affect Harley's bottom line. They are after all in business to make and sell motorcycles. And make a profit doing so. And like it or not, Europe has a larger market for motorcycles than the US so it would be foolish to dismiss them.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Here's an interesting thought. If 15% of H-D's produced were sold in Europe and they move just that production there. Then that means 15% fewer bikes made here. Sounds like layoffs in the future to me.

The American market has been flat for almost a year now

HD will do what ever it takes to survive IMO

They will have to re evaluate the American market and go from there

If they continue to build bikes here that wont sell, the market will continue to go down along with value of stocks that equals less new product development money IMO

 

[Freewheeling Ron]

I could be wrong, but I don't see the recent tariffs being very long term. Appears to be part of Trump's Art of the Deal. Once trade agreements get renegotiated these would probably go away. Also, plans to relocate production don't occur overnight. HD had already announced several months ago it was closing its Kansas City facility and moving that production elsewhere and overseas.

It's hard to fault Harley for adjusting to the market. US sales have been going down for a while now, so they either need to figure out how to sell more bikes here or reduce production. I view this as more of Harley sales issue (lack of) than I do a tariff issue. It appears Harley was already in the process of doing this and is using tariffs as an excuse to possibly look better in the process.

 

[rhino 2]

I could be wrong, but I don't see the recent tariffs being very long term. Appears to be part of Trump's Art of the Deal. Once trade agreements get renegotiated these would probably go away. Also, plans to relocate production don't occur overnight. HD had already announced several months ago it was closing its Kansas City facility and moving that production elsewhere and overseas.

It's hard to fault Harley for adjusting to the market. US sales have been going down for a while now, so they either need to figure out how to sell more bikes here or reduce production. I view this as more of Harley sales issue (lack of) than I do a tariff issue. It appears Harley was already in the process of doing this and is using tariffs as an excuse to possibly look better in the process.

''Exactly''........

 

[LadyonaMission]

Exactly''........

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[hddocfl]

Harley sales a way down from the 90s and early 2000s , Young people are not buying new Harleys and production is showing it. Most of these young people have no interest in riding American made rides.

 

[Gone2Three]

Polaris considers following HD on a move in production

https://www.usatoday.com/story/mone...rs-moving-some-production-overseas/747948002/

 

[retiredff]

Harley sales a way down from the 90s and early 2000s , Young people are not buying new Harleys and production is showing it. Most of these young people have no interest in riding American made rides.

The Millenials will have to get a job first!!

 

[Jack Klarich]

Trump should sick the EPA all over MoCo, but that would probably hurt Indian too.

This may be a part of why the folks are backing off buying a new bike here, the consent decree HD entered into is good for HD warranty claims going down, but does nothing to restore faith in their product

Indian is facing similar problems with heat being the main issue. If the EPA demands more leaning on these engines we will no longer see the air cooled engines in this country

JMO

 

[Old Road Dog]

Do not think for a stinking second that if the MoCo could move its entire production to India and get away with importing thire bikes into the U.S. they'd do it in a New York minute. With the last four traitors in the White House they could've gotten away with it.Not this President. We baby boomers that came into our financial age in the 80's and 90's after busting our butts for 20-30 years to make it were able to afford new Harleys.HD became spoiled and expected the good times to never end.My dealer is selling preowned bikes 2 to one new.Millenials want Harleys they just don't want to pay the freight on a new bike when there is glut on clean low mileage used bikes. When (if) capacity is reduced they will start buying new.

 

[Freewheeling Ron]

This is "earning week" on Wall Street where various companies report earnings per share for the previous quarter. Harley will report on Tuesday. Will be interesting to see how they did. Tariffs would probably not have effected April-June.