How to save Harley Davidison - Page 10

 



Yes, but you're just an awkward sod.

<fx: contemplates old black leather jacket, black leather plain boots,
and plain black leather gloves>


--
BMW K1100LT  Ducati 750SS  Honda CB400F  Triumph Street Triple
Suzuki TS250ER GN250  Damn, back to six bikes!
Try Googling before asking a damn silly question.
chateau dot murray at idnet dot com

 


I think that's probably illustrative of experienced motorcyclists who
are not wedded to one brand.  I wear Aerostich Roadcrafters, Sidi
boots, Harley-Davidson branded gloves (as well as Aplinestars and
Tourmaster), a Joe Rocket armpred mesh summer jacket, HJC and Shoei
helmets, L.L. Bean goretex raingear, and Gerbing electrically heated
clothing in the winter.   Oh, and Triumph, Norton, Harley, and Ducati
t-shirts.

 

J. Clarke wrote:

No, by government subsidizing of products that didn't sell.

 


I am pretty certain you are wrong here. What happened in the early
1980s was *not* foreseen nor wanted by Japan's government.And it
wasn't government subsidies.

When products do not sell, you cut the price and clear stocks. It
happens *everywhere*. Most recently, I've seen all those 'England'
football flags discounted from £1 each to just 10p in a local
shop :-))  Is that dumping? No, it's not.

Something very odd happened in the Jap bike industry in the early
1980s, and I'm still waiting to see if anyone else here knows what it
was.

 

TOG@Toil wrote:

H-D proved it in court.


I agree it wasn't wanted of forseen but it happened.  And yes it was
government subsidy.

Sure, and you stop making them.  But that meant layoffs and unemployment
benefits.  So, rather than pay those benefits, the gummymint subsidized the
lines that didn't sell.  I wanted to buy a then-new Goldwing Interstate but
my dealer was out of them.  So he offered me last years model - brand new -
for $1000 bucks less with Vetter luggage.  Hard for H-D to compete with
that.

Overproduction ....