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Harley-Davidson to close KC plant
www.kmbc.com ^ | 01/30/2018 | Staff

Posted on 01/30/2018 11:52:04 AM PST by Red Badger

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

Harley-Davidson announced that it will close its Kansas City plant as the company moves to consolidate operations.

In the company's fourth-quarter earnings report, Harley-Davidson said that the Kansas City motorcycle plant would be consolidated with its plant in York, Pa.

Workers were reportedly told that the plant would close next year. A statement released from Harley-Davidson Tuesday morning said the plant would close in the third quarter of 2019.

"As we continue to improve our cost structure and maintain world-class manufacturing operations, we are launching a significant, multi-year manufacturing optimization initiative that is anchored in the consolidation of our Kansas City, Mo. final assembly operations into our York, Pa. final assembly plant.

"This decision was made after very careful consideration of our manufacturing footprint and the appropriate capacity given the current business environment.We are constantly evaluating capacity and our current U.S. capacity exceeds U.S. demand. Approximately 800 full-time, causal and contract positions will be impacted at the Kansas City plant. Layoffs are expected to begin mid-year and the facility will close in the third quarter of 2019. We anticipate an increase of approximately 450 full-time, casual and contractor positions will be added at our York facility, which will be expanded to support additional production.

"This was a decision we did not take lightly. The Kansas City plant has been assembling Harley-Davidson motorcycles since 1997, and our employees will leave a great legacy of quality, pride and manufacturing leadership. We are grateful to them and the Kansas City community for their many years of support and their service to our dealers and our riders."

Kansas City Mayor Sly James released a statement on the plant's closure:

"Although we are disappointed that Harley-Davidson will be closing its plant, it’s also important to realize there are more and more opportunities in our region everyday for new jobs with bright futures as well as opportunities for retraining. For example, our partnerships with LaunchCode and TechHire have led to hundreds of Kansas Citians becoming trained for IT and advanced manufacturing jobs with exciting futures, and projects like the new single terminal airport and downtown convention hotel will require thousands of skilled workers."


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; US: Kansas; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: bikes; harleydavidson; motorcycles
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The HD dealer here has tons of bikes on his lot and can't seem to sell them.......Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki dealers don't have that problem. ....................
1 posted on 01/30/2018 11:52:04 AM PST by Red Badger
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To: martin_fierro

Motorcycle Ping!......................


2 posted on 01/30/2018 11:53:05 AM PST by Red Badger (Wanna surprise? Google your own name. Wanna have fun? Google your friends names......)
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To: Red Badger

Here in KY, most bikes seem to be Harleys. When I lived in Seattle, they didn’t get a lot of respect. Mostly it was about reliability.


3 posted on 01/30/2018 11:53:57 AM PST by robroys woman (So you're not confused, I'm male.)
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To: Red Badger
Young people don't want to ride old fart bikes.

I don't mind riding any bike, really. Hell, a 350 Royal Enfield made in Chennai that can barely climb a hill still beats a day at the office.

But a Duc beats riding anything else.

4 posted on 01/30/2018 11:55:56 AM PST by Sirius Lee (In God We Trust, In Trump We MAGA)
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To: Red Badger
Mayor Sly James:


5 posted on 01/30/2018 11:57:39 AM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: Sirius Lee

People don’t want to pay the outrageous prices for a Harley either.

Parts are even worse.....................


6 posted on 01/30/2018 11:57:42 AM PST by Red Badger (Wanna surprise? Google your own name. Wanna have fun? Google your friends names......)
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To: Red Badger; yldstrk; zerosix; Army Air Corps; MeganC
That is a shame.

I went a field trip there once in High School.

I was impressed.

7 posted on 01/30/2018 11:57:43 AM PST by KC_Lion (If you want on First Lady Melania's, Ivanka Trump's or Sarah Palin's Ping Lists, just let me know.)
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To: robroys woman

My Yamahas and Suzukis look like Harleys.

But they don’t cost nearly as much...................


8 posted on 01/30/2018 11:58:55 AM PST by Red Badger (Wanna surprise? Google your own name. Wanna have fun? Google your friends names......)
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To: Red Badger

Harley Davidson screwed the pooch once again by attempting to be everything to everybody and mass producing their product. They began building behemoth dealerships and stocking them with hundreds of bikes.

Go back to your roots Harley Davidson...go back to your roots!


9 posted on 01/30/2018 11:59:03 AM PST by servantboy777
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To: Red Badger

And are almost certainly more reliable.


10 posted on 01/30/2018 12:00:37 PM PST by robroys woman (So you're not confused, I'm male.)
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To: Red Badger
>>My Yamahas and Suzukis look like Harleys.<<

Wonder why?

11 posted on 01/30/2018 12:01:12 PM PST by servantboy777
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To: servantboy777

The looks is one thing.

The price is another. Even repair parts are hugely expensive for HD....................


12 posted on 01/30/2018 12:02:55 PM PST by Red Badger (Wanna surprise? Google your own name. Wanna have fun? Google your friends names......)
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To: servantboy777

If you’ve got 35K there’s a guy over in Pacifica that has a 1912 for sale on CL. Not being a motorcycle rider, I’d actually ride that, because I love old stuff ...


13 posted on 01/30/2018 12:04:26 PM PST by Axenolith (Government blows, and that which governs least, blows least...)
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To: servantboy777
They began building behemoth dealerships and stocking them with hundreds of bikes.

That's exactly what happened here. The HD dealership expanded big time with new owners, they bought a very large stock of bikes and now they can't sell them.....HD also screwed themselves with that 'Black Chrome" crap................

14 posted on 01/30/2018 12:05:18 PM PST by Red Badger (Wanna surprise? Google your own name. Wanna have fun? Google your friends names......)
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To: Red Badger

I tried to buy a one year old HD it was $18,000.
I got a used 2014 Kanasaki Nomad 1700 for $11,000 with basically all the same features. Most of the folks I ride with have Harley-Davidson but buy the extended warranty because their quality defects are expected.


15 posted on 01/30/2018 12:13:30 PM PST by pwatson
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To: Red Badger
Bought my first bike at a small dealership down south of Houston. Great place. May have had ten bikes in the showroom back in 2000. Dealt with a guy called Dirty Larry...don't let the name fool ya. Long beard, tatted up guy, soft spoken.

Great guy, old time biker dude...and a Christian minister.
Got a great deal, but not only that, the dude KNEW his Harley Davidson bikes...every detail. You could tell he lived and breathed Harleys his whole life.

I trusted him.

Went back four years later to purchase a new bike...Uh, WTH? Big huge dealership, tons of bikes and the sales people were young clean shavin yuppy types. One was some Iranian guy. They knew crapola.

I asked for Dirty Larry. They told me he didn't work there any longer. I said...have a good day.

16 posted on 01/30/2018 12:17:33 PM PST by servantboy777
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To: Red Badger

I only ride bikes from the Motor Company.

Have owned literally tens of motorcycles in my life, quit Honda after the ugly “Valkyrie Rune” makeover. Never had much use for a 200mph plastic spoon either.

Yes, the H-D is expensive, but it’s still an American* bike. (*like Ford is an American truck)


17 posted on 01/30/2018 12:20:39 PM PST by Hugh the Scot ("The days of being a keyboard commando are over. It's time to get some bloody knuckles." -Drew68)
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To: Red Badger
But they don’t cost nearly as much...................

Nor sound like them. I love my 2016 Road Glide Special.

18 posted on 01/30/2018 12:21:05 PM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say)
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To: pwatson

Most of the bikes sell for $15K and up. That is way above the average millenial’s pay grade. HD wants to increase their younger customer base, they need to produce a bike they can afford.................


19 posted on 01/30/2018 12:22:24 PM PST by Red Badger (Wanna surprise? Google your own name. Wanna have fun? Google your friends names......)
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To: Hugh the Scot
Yes, the H-D is expensive, but it’s still an American* bike.

Amen!

20 posted on 01/30/2018 12:22:35 PM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say)
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