Trouble in Paradise?

mikesim

mikesim

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Joined
Jun 7, 2011
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2,542
Age
75
Location
Union, MO
Bike
NT700, Red, #989,
From the gist of this article, it sounds like there is trouble brewing at the MoCo. I haven't been following the financials too closely lately other than to know that Livewire is pretty much a dead issue. It sounds like a substantial number of the Dealer Council members want to give Jochen the boot.


Mike
 
Camelot said:
Amazing that people are against diversity equity and inclusion but this is the world that we live in. Not sure why the HD “faithful” are in such an uproar but HD caters to more than the American market so it’s likely a move to be more palatable to global markets.

Tons of HD riders here in California of all ages, race and gender. HD’s are not my thing but demographically the U.S. is changing in ways some don’t like apparently. Most of the older HD riders mention getting a Honda Gold Wing instead of another Harley.
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Age brings wisdom.
 
It really sounds as if there is a serious family fued with the MoCo and its loyal customers. The CEO Jochen Zeitz for some strange reason is now referring to himself as the Taliban in his attempt to turn around the company. It appears that he is either tone deaf or willingly trying to alienate their customer base. I really don't expect to see him survive this insurrection. It is really shocking when the MoCo folds their tents two days early at Sturgis and departs due to lack of visitors to their display.

Mike
 
the story has hit Yahoo. A CNN Business article. This was the first words

Tractor Supply Co. John Deere. Now Harley-Davidson

people's voices are being heard!!
 
It appears now that all three of the companies in Davids post have now reversed their public polcies regarding their promotion of DEI. This is the latest from the MoCo


You would have thought that with last year's Bud Light debacle (that AB InBev is still paying dearly for) these companies would have taken a step back and learned a valuable PR lesson. Instead they appear to be tone deaf to their customers. A companies prime responsibility is to manufacture/market quality products by hiring the best qualified employees and to sell those products at a reasonable profit which provides a statisfactory return to their investors. Keep your politics to yourself!!

Mike
 
It might be hard to hear your customers while the would-be autocrats are screaming in your face. That won't change until it stops getting results.
 
From everything I've been reading today, I think the long knives are out for Zeitz. I believe that within the week he will either "resign" for the good of the company or be shown the door (with a golden parachute) by the board of directors.

Mike
 
Read this article about how H-D's CEO, Jochen Zeitz, compared himself favorably to the Taliban.:rolleyes: IMNSHO that 🫏 clown needs his Visa cancelled and deported back to Germany. Why H-D's board thought a socialist German was a good fit for H-D is beyond me. I'm glad I sold my H-D stock years ago...
 
My understanding of DEI is that it favors physical qualities over content, merit, training, education, and qualification, and that DEI is incentivized by investors. That’s what people are upset about. People who are going to hate are going to find license to hate anyway.
 
Tuchango said:
My understanding of DEI is that it favors physical qualities over content, merit, training, education, and qualification, and that DEI is incentivized by investors. That’s what people are upset about. People who are going to hate are going to find license to hate anyway.
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I'm not so sure that DEI is truly incentivized by investors and that is a lot of what the brouhaha is about. By and large, investors are primarily interested in ROI. It is the job of upper management to concentrate on maximizing ROI for their investors. When the investors see that upper management is being distracted from their financial responsibilities by political ventures they become rather irate.

Mike
 
Regardless of what happens to Harleys CEO it will not solve the problem of the shift in demographics in the US. The entire motorcycle industry in the US is experiencing this. I think Harley is particularly affected by this as they are primarily selling very expensive big bore motorcycles which younger generation can’t afford and are not interested in. Even Honda has seen a big decline in Goldwing sales in the US. One of the reasons they moved production from the US back to Japan and why one of that large Goldwing user groups in the US folded as membership dropped too low to make it worthwhile.
 
Harley's problems have been a long time coming. They have relied for far too long on an aging demographic for their sales success and failed to plan for the future. Their prior CEO, Matt Levatich had the right idea I think, but he was several years too late and planned a viable future for Harley that they simply couldn't not afford. They then brought aboard a "rag merchant" to somehow revive sales and bring the MoCo back to profitability. That dog didn't hunt, which came as no surprise. I can't explain why but automotive/motorsports companies are best led by leaders who have gasoline in their veins. The industry needs gearheads, not bean counters. An effort must be made to make motorcycles cool again. What the industry needs are "influencers" who can lure the young folks back to two wheels. Back in the sixties, Honda made it cool to be a motorcycle rider. After all, who didn't want to be one of the "nicest" people?
The "pirate" schtick offers no attraction to the young. All they see are beer bellied old farts riding on loud motorcycles pretending to be Peter Fonda.
Mike
 
I think economics has a lot to do with it. Most of the current crop of motorcycles are just too expensive for a young person working a minimum wage job. I bought my first Honda working a minimum wage job. I am seeing a lot of younger folks riding electric bicycles and scooters (the ones you stand on.) No special license required and not much in the way of mechanical skills to keep it running. These are in town run about vehicles. Parking is also very easy
 
Warren said:
I think economics has a lot to do with it. Most of the current crop of motorcycles are just too expensive for a young person working a minimum wage job.
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In the real rural areas I don't see the economically disadvantaged on Harleys. They are on 50cc Chinese scooters.

There has always been the quip "yesterday's tech, at tomorrow's prices" for Harleys. I don't think that's really applicable anymore... they do make nice bikes with impeccable fit and finish. I think it's more appropriate to describe it as "blue collar marketing at white collar prices"
 
The 50cc Chinese scooters are also very popular here amongst those who have lost their driver's license to a DWI offense. In Missouri, the scooters are not required to be licensed or inspected. The rider is not required to have a driver's license nor take a proficiency test and prior to the state eliminating the helmet law, riders were not required to wear a helmet. There have been enough complaints about the lax scooter regs that the state legislature will soon correct this oversight.

Mike
 
mikesim said:
The 50cc Chinese scooters are also very popular here amongst those who have lost their driver's license to a DWI offense. In Missouri, the scooters are not required to be licensed or inspected. The rider is not required to have a driver's license nor take a proficiency test and prior to the state eliminating the helmet law, riders were not required to wear a helmet. There have been enough complaints about the lax scooter regs that the state legislature will soon correct this oversight.

Mike
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That's probably still illegal for those with license suspensions and would probably get taken away if caught. I remember visiting a pick-and-pull some years ago for a car part in a locality that didn't require a license for 50cc and under. The scrap yard had an abnormally large amount of small scooters laying about in the yard, so I asked the cashier about it when I was checking out.

Turns out all those scooters were confiscated by the police from DUI offenders who thought they found a loophole since scooters don't require a license. You get your license suspended means NO motor vehicles in public roads.
 
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