Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Harley-Davidson Has Its First Loss in 16 Years
AP ^ | January 22, 2010 | ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posted on 01/23/2010 3:23:00 PM PST by opentalk

Harley-Davidson, the motorcycle maker, reported a fourth-quarter loss Friday, its first quarterly shortfall in 16 years, hurt by restructuring costs and the sluggish economy. Harley-Davidson has come under pressure over the last year as the tight credit markets and the weak economy led consumers to shun purchases of its high-end, heavyweight motorcycles. The company has been reorganizing its business through layoffs, factory closures and closing or selling unwanted brands.

Harley said shipments of its bikes to dealers in 2009 fell 27 percent, to 223,023.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy
KEYWORDS: bhoeconomy; economy; fourth100days; harley; motorcycles; obama
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last

1 posted on 01/23/2010 3:23:01 PM PST by opentalk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: opentalk

Oh my.

What ever will mid-life-crisis, Viagra-swilling, chaps-uniform-wearing, obese, men with receding hair lines do?


2 posted on 01/23/2010 3:25:53 PM PST by WaterBoard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: opentalk

A lot fewer 60 + year olds and baby boomers will be hittin the road after Obama gives their Soc Security and Medicare to illegals and Haitians he wants to flood in.

Lots of baby boomers and some seniors voted for this. I know seniors who foolishly voted for the Muslim.


3 posted on 01/23/2010 3:26:08 PM PST by Frantzie (TV - sending Americans towards Islamic serfdom - Cancel TV service NOW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WaterBoard

Probably will be in the soup line when they depression really kicks in toward the end of this summer.

FL has 13+% unemployment but they let the illegals keep flooding in.


4 posted on 01/23/2010 3:27:31 PM PST by Frantzie (TV - sending Americans towards Islamic serfdom - Cancel TV service NOW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: WaterBoard

Probably will be in the soup line when they depression really kicks in toward the end of this summer.

FL has 13+% unemployment but they let the illegals keep flooding in.


5 posted on 01/23/2010 3:27:45 PM PST by Frantzie (TV - sending Americans towards Islamic serfdom - Cancel TV service NOW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: opentalk
Harley-Davidson, reported a fourth-quarter loss Friday, its first quarterly shortfall in 16 years,

It's Bush's fault...

6 posted on 01/23/2010 3:28:44 PM PST by tflabo (Restore the Republic)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: opentalk
About time... 20K for a vastly inferior motorcycle is ridiculous...
7 posted on 01/23/2010 3:29:21 PM PST by TV Dinners (Hope is not a Strategy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WaterBoard
What ever will mid-life-crisis, Viagra-swilling, chaps-uniform-wearing, obese, men with receding hair lines do?

I switched to pilates in '07, but then again I was a Ducati rider.

8 posted on 01/23/2010 3:30:35 PM PST by Tijeras_Slim (Live jubtabulously!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: opentalk

Is it true when Harley Davidson needed new machine tools they chose Japanese made lathes, mills, drills, saws, etc.?


9 posted on 01/23/2010 3:32:29 PM PST by reaganator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WaterBoard
wait for the sun, and go for a ride, what else?

Maybe even have the wife ride along.

I don't see the downside, never did.

10 posted on 01/23/2010 3:34:20 PM PST by going hot (Happiness is a Momma Deuce)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: TV Dinners
can pick up a decent one for under 8K nowadays.

I picked up a slightly crashed one for 1800 and restored it, runs smooth, gave it to The Wife for christmas.

Total less than 4 k invested.

They got overrated for a while, as people had more money than they could wipe their azz with.

.Still, for diehards, the price is in the affordable column now, and all the better.

11 posted on 01/23/2010 3:40:08 PM PST by going hot (Happiness is a Momma Deuce)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: TV Dinners

Ignorant

Harleys range from 7k up. And no they aren’t inferior. They are actually a better deal than imports now that the dollar has tanked.


12 posted on 01/23/2010 3:44:30 PM PST by mamelukesabre (Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: WaterBoard

I dont know about the other guys but Im gonna sell my Harley and lay down and die


13 posted on 01/23/2010 3:47:09 PM PST by woofie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: opentalk
I think it's time for this once great company to diversify and design a lightweight city bike designed for Generation X commuters.The days of heavyweight touring bike are almost over,nobody in these days of economic collapse can afford a bike costing almost as much as most suv's.
I googled trike/scooters and found this neat little city bike costing only 1 1/2 thousand.=

It wouldn't look out of place on city byways
14 posted on 01/23/2010 3:49:08 PM PST by cavador (Wash your Hands-Cover that sneeze!It helps stop the H1N1 Virus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: opentalk

How's that Hope and Change working out for ya?
15 posted on 01/23/2010 3:55:42 PM PST by iowamark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cavador

Looks gay,communist,and African.


16 posted on 01/23/2010 3:57:01 PM PST by Rome2000 (OBAMA IS A COMMUNIST CRYPTO-MUSLIM)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: cavador
Oh yeah, sure, like I'm gonna park my mid-life-crisis, Viagra-swilling, chaps-uniform-wearing, obese, men with receding hair lines ass on that piece of crap?
17 posted on 01/23/2010 3:59:26 PM PST by OldSmaj (I am an avowed enemy of islam and Obama is a damned fool and traitor. Questions?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: reaganator
Is it true when Harley Davidson needed new machine tools they chose Japanese made lathes, mills, drills, saws, etc.?

Absolutely, I used to work there in engineering in the early '90's. I don't think I ever saw an American machine tool even though Kearney and Trecker was dying nearby - but in their defense the Japanese now totally control the market.

Keep in mind the Japanese claimed that their machine tool industry was still recovering from WWII until the '80's and no American firm could set up distributorships or buy a Japanese company.

18 posted on 01/23/2010 4:03:10 PM PST by Last Dakotan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: reaganator

“Is it true when Harley Davidson needed new machine tools they chose Japanese made lathes, mills, drills, saws, etc.?”

As opposed to what? There are almost no U.S. made machine tools. U.S. manufacturing has been regulated, taxed and unionized out of existence decades ago.


19 posted on 01/23/2010 4:08:44 PM PST by bitterohiogunclinger (America held hostage - day 393)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: WaterBoard

I can tell most of the posters here do not own or have ever ridden a Harley.

Ride Safe


20 posted on 01/23/2010 4:12:33 PM PST by 23 Everest (NRA Life Member . Tea Party Patriot & 92 Harley Softtail Owner)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-55 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson