The Harley Davidson Controversy Is Much Worse Than We Thought

[@hparham3]

The CEO needs to go!

[@dcccharles4569]

The self-proclaimed Taliban of Sustainability needs to be ousted now! This Hypocrite preachers climate change measures while doing what he wants for his own comfort while others are forced into deprivation... hypocrite.

[@patrickjohnson9273]

And the board.

[@taylandemenizcivekhejimoli]

Yeah remove the German, and I am a German citizen, stop the wokeness.

[@ronito346]

It doesn't matter.. They showed their color.

[@patrickosborne9766]

Put them out of business now. If you do anymore business either this company, you are the problem!!

[@tomedgar4375]

Focus is on the CEO, The board of directors are equally guilty

[@PaulPiazzolla]

🎉

[@Roadglide117]

The CEO is a typical hypocrite! The rules don't apply to me attitude. Get rid of him and bring HD back to reality with a purpose driven CEO that understands motorcycle freedom analogy, if that exist anymore.

[@waltertodd4281]

Absolutely! 🇺🇸

[@Roaddawg68]

Damn straight!

[@brianbayowski9265]

BOYCOTT until their current CEO and Board of Directors are replaced and it's announced that Revmax production will REMAIN IN THE US! FHD! ✊️

[@williamjohnson6517]

It goes above the CEO . I agree with you but the bigger picture is Black Rock , Vanguard own most if not all of the business. They are the ones hiring and firing. That Kraut is the head but the board is just as woke as he is . Also people say ( I'm gonna buy Indian)🤔😂They saw what happened at Sturgis to Bud and Now Harley with no takers at their displays and took down their DEI on thier websites. YES even them. And why well who has an interest in Indian. Probably the major players ( woke ) messing with Harley .😉

[@myronmosley2167]

⁠@@williamjohnson6517the difference between Harley and Indian is not that they don’t both support “woke” stuff, as you say, because they both do. All major companies do, whether you like it or not. It’s that Harley has built its marketing machine on top of the tough guy, all American, “outlaw biker” image. All of which are in stark contrast to the things they are now currently promoting. Indian on the other hand makes their bank on the historical value in the Indian brand and the individual bikes’ performance and features. There’s no “we’re hardcore” mumbo jumbo in Indians marketing like there is in Harley.

[@christopherw4527]

My twenty year old chevy and dodge trucks are made in Canada and Mexico.

[@rondeycallahan464]

😂😂😂😂😂Ba-bye!!

[@ronito346]

Well Jap brands ain't woke .

[@MarineMike77]

Indian can thank Harley for me buying a Indian..

[@RobertDyer-g2o]

Man Im on the fence . I road a Roadmaster over the weekend . I was very impressive . But they're things about indian i dont like .

[@beaujules1]

I just bought a Chieftain. Less customization options with a smaller aftermarket, but the bike sounds and rides great. Equally iconic and it is not weak and gay.

[@franciscoluna9596]

@@RobertDyer-g2o ALL motorcycles have things we don't like.

[@treatrocky1]

Same here. Bought a scout bobber was looking at a 1200

[@BryanC-h1j]

It will be a cold day in Hell before I would buy an electric car so why would I even remotely think of considering buying an electric motorcycle?

[@Roaddawg68]

He yeah, well said !

[@233kosta]

It doesn't make sense. Besides, HDs are already really heavy, without strapping a tonne of battery to them. It's simply not a mature-enough technology to replace the current models. For cars or bikes. Trains, trams and trolley busses are the way forward for electric transport. Have been for a long time. And if governments committed to making those viable options, WITHOUT forcing people to ride them, then car traffic would naturally decline as more and more choose the convenience of using a really good, efficient, public transport network. That then makes roads better for all of us who love riding our bikes.

[@hatkid3093]

Why do you not want an electric car

[@233kosta]

@@hatkid3093 Same reason why I don't like anything made after the mid-2000s. Cars peaked in the mid-'90s, it's been downhill since, with a few exceptions.

[@Roaddawg68]

@@hatkid3093 too expensive to buy and it's worse for the environment when it get recycled, don't find any interest in one or an electric motorcycle no thanks I am old skool .

[@davejackson1970]

Livewire is a joke. 158 motorcycles sold in the last quarter. I realize it is a separate company but HD owns the majority share in a company that lost 24million last quarter and 40 million the quarter before that. What the hell is Zeitz doing with shareholders money?

[@williamjohnson6517]

Running gay pride events , supporting tampons in boys toilets , trans shit you name it . Basically he's a tree hugging Demorat type that hates gasoline powered vehicles. Yeah that works with a company like HD .🤔😵‍💫💩.He's a German 🤡 but we ain't laughing. And even though they have now said they are going to reverse course. I don't believe them. Plus the damage has been done I believe. People are so pissed they are keeping older models ( myself) or selling altogether. 🤙

[@wanaraz]

He's collecting it in pay.

[@AA-ke5cu]

Money for the fourth Reich nazis while destroying u.s. jobs.

[@AA-ke5cu]

Money for fourth reich nazis while destroying u.s. jobs. 😢

[@estern001]

Don't give them a second chance. They never said they were wrong and apologized for their actions. They said, "We stopped that." Would you believe your cheating woman if she behaved the same way?

[@kevindecker9444]

Read the HD document carefully. HD never said they stopped discrimination against white males. They are simply going to not call it DEI. They are still going forward with hating whitey patriots and coddling leftist weirdos.

[@fragtastic4]

You gonna ride Japanese bikes? Indian aka Polaris is just as woke, if not more, as Harley. Here's a clip from a recent news story..."Polaris, which produces the Harley competitor Indian motorcycle, removed references to DEI from its web pages this month as “the phrase DE&I has evolved from a general term into something increasingly politicized with varying interpretations,” the company said in a statement."

[@Ch-ui6mw]

​@@fragtastic4 Well, you gotta give Polaris / Indian credit for being able to "read the room" BEFORE it became as big of an issue as it has for Harley. Also, Indian didn't announce they're opening a factory in Thailand..... Indian observed the backlash against H-D and made a management decision: "Let's don't do THAT!"

[@fragtastic4]

@@Ch-ui6mw well it ain't hard to leave the party quickly when you see someone getting their ass beat and you fear that you're next.

[@elmaestro6106]

I think Indian Scout looks better than the HD equivalent! Who knows when I’m ready for a new bike, it might be an Indian MC.

[@JA-zh5xi]

Let’s not get carried away - Indian builds some very ugly bikes.

[@fragtastic4]

Here's a clip from a recent news story..."Polaris, which produces the Harley competitor Indian motorcycle, removed references to DEI from its web pages this month as “the phrase DE&I has evolved from a general term into something increasingly politicized with varying interpretations,” the company said in a statement." Ride what you like, Just don't do it because of politics without knowing the full scope of it.

[@beaujules1]

@@fragtastic4Vote with your wallet. HD has the worst of the woke leaders. At least Indian did not require prodding from the market to abandon that woke non-sense. We keep voting with our wallets and we will win this culture war. That's what it is really...

[@mitch_9219]

Since when was Harley not a premium brand. He thinks he can put on a Harley Sweater and he will be in touch with the core values of the riders. The whole board of directors needs to go.

[@brucem8129]

Exactly

[@longduckdong123]

with no contract payout. Nothing

[@thereve]

Does any other brand have entire stores dedicated to selling nothing but T-shirts? I don't think it gets any more premium than that!

[@RitzCaraldo]

They have premium branding but pretty much all motorcycle companies make bikes that are objectively better bikes for cheaper.

[@johnybigarms]

The U.K have been getting Thailand Made Harley bikes since 2020, the whole range, and as such, I won’t buy one, had a dozen Harley’s in the past, but premium priced bikes made in Thailand doesn’t work.

[@ooWandereroo]

I checked out my Harley Breakout - I'm in the UK too - it was made in the USA - that'll do me

[@bruceyung70]

This type of mentality is why HD is having difficulty keeping its head above the water. You need to embrace adopt and improve and continue to improve throughout. It's the only way. HD is essentially the same bike year after year but dealerships are enormous with huge empty spaces. What a waste of money! Most HD owners don't feel like paying 40k but if it is 25k for the same bike then it might have a chance to survive. Thailand might give that hope. In the U.S. the workers will rape the company they work for worker's compensation, sick days, suing for stupid little sh1t. Thailand on the other hand will be more loyal to the company and won't call in sick for having a little screw drop and hit their foot and file for disability. Think about it.

[@hatkid3093]

Why

[@bigred22ize]

Been riding for six months. Gonna work my way up to an Indian. I wanted a Nightster, but the DEI stuff made me look closer at Harley and realize it’s all big, slow, and expensive.

[@mick_1976]

Indian is no where near as nice as Harley. Also they are just as woke.

[@subuguru3]

Nightster's are not big slow or expensive. They are lighter than the new Scout , handle amazingly and are a great value .

[@Hugh-Janus_1776]

Indian is woke, too. On paper, the nightster out performs the scout bobber. Visually Indian scout wins

[@peterwilson8039]

@@Hugh-Janus_1776 I agree that the Scout (not the bobber though) is better looking than the Sportster S, but it doesn't look better than the Nighster, depending upon taste I suppose. I wouldn't buy any of them, unless a rich uncle died and left me a boatload of money.

[@scruffy4647]

I am not sure what “Made in America” means anymore. The reality is they are assembled here. Materials and parts are globally sourced.

[@Ch-ui6mw]

Just like every other brand of manufacturer......as you said, Made In America just doesn't mean the same as it once did.

[@jefefumador]

The problem is they aren’t $27k. By the time you get to the bottom line they are $35k plus. And “temporary” means that they are temporarily only going to be moving production of the rev max bikes, then once established they’ll move production of the rest of the bikes.

[@kencarp57]

If they move the rest of the bike production offshore, they will NEVER sell another Harley in the US! That would truly be a death wish for Harley.

[@johangol4189]

Temporarily permanent.

[@bradbassett1240]

Trump will slap a 100% tariff on HD bikes coming back to the US. There will be NO Profits!

[@brenthood2337]

Trump will do a lot of things. Raising the price on parade bikes is the least of my worries.

[@grumman38]

Lessons learned from this, we must be proactive about who we are spending our money with and are they acting in our best interest? Taking your money and buying parts from countries that don’t respect you is not going to happen.

[@erikschoff2272]

Does the H-D CEO fly on private jets? He's a hypocrite, if he does.

[@stuarthull5706]

Companies like Triumph for example move production to more financially favourable (to shareholders) places in the world like Thailand all the time. However as a British 🇬🇧 person o stopped buying Triumph when they did this. In the case of HD it is wrong as they should be made and assembled in USA in my opinion but due to import duties they assembly them in Thailand and then ship into the U.K. and Europe etc. I understand this but don’t agree with it and will now not buy another HD.

[@ahoneyman]

Harley sales have decined 50% since 2013. For a fan base that's supposedly so loyal and invested they sure ain't buyin' em.

[@BillLaBrie]

Can’t buy a motorcycle when you’ve passed away.

[@donniebrookins6215]

I will keep the Harley I have. If Indian ever builds something that isnt butt ugly I may buy one

[@yourarsenaladvisor]

I think Indian is there now. I think their gas tanks need more capacity though. I guess that’s my gripe.

[@geraldkriel3267]

I agree, they're hideous and their starting to price like Harley. I just financed a 2019 Halrey Sport Glide at the start of July. Next upgrade I'm going for a BMW R18 B. Harley already showed their true colors. They don't care about their customers, they don't represent us anymore. It's going to take a lot more for me to forgive and forget.

[@yourarsenaladvisor]

@@geraldkriel3267 it is interesting because in the last few years I’ve become more interested in the cruiser style of bike and I was actually surprised to see how good I thought some of the Indian bikes looked compared to some of the Harley Davidson, but I also see that they’re almost as expensive, which sort of eliminates some of the benefit of having that other company to compete with HD.

[@markflaherty7960]

Me too

[@dentman5679]

Facts If only Indian could tap into some of those victory bike designs

[@eugenehall1190]

So they are overcharging us imagine that

[@kevindecker9444]

i saw a CVO price tag at 60K

[@paul9156c]

You asked for my comment... South Park was right. Episode "The F Word" That word has been redefined throughout history. The latest redefinition is from the South Park creators.

[@mr.b9871]

This is exactly why, for me, Royal Enfield leads. Their CEO rides his brand AND goes out and is in contact with his base. He is part of the brand, not "above" it. And has turned it around 180⁰. It may not be busy in the US, but as a global company, they have been doing very well and it's all due to their CEO.

[@richardforrest9707]

My RE is a decent bike for the price, but not as nice as some of my other bikes

[@dr.danchallice3888]

Agreed. Royal Enfield filled the gap for an affordable entry level bike, whereas Harley-Davidson moved away from them.

[@AmericanSavageGarage-em2oy]

Indian has a plant in thailand and has since 2015. Probably the most concerning, is that Indian removed the colorized logo for DEI reasons in 2023. I have videos on this if interested. Love your channel. NIce job! Subscribed. All of this stuff is actually related to corporate tax rate. In thailand it is 15%. In USA 21% That explains a bit here. As to the CEO, I need do video on this too, but, the HD memo is not exactly true since, As Hegdshot points out, the people still there are going to pursue their woke climate crap regardless. They will just do it now on the down low. BUT nothing has changed. Electric has higher emissions, btw. CEO has to go.

[@bobwampler3387]

Like others here, I thought Harley was already a premium brand. 🤔

[@kevindecker9444]

Nope, the only reason HD existed in the 40s while Indian folded was HD got the military contracts in WW2.

[@rockbiterhd]

The whole country is going through make America great again then they go do this

[@ralfderwerwurm6960]

As a german I agree, the CEO has to go. But don't send him back here, Amazonas or Sahara would be fine🤪

[@joemann3536]

May I suggest you buy an extended warranty. I paid cash in 2023 for a brand new 2023 FXST. in 800 MILES SHE HAS BEEN in for WARRENTY ISSUES 8 TIMES & WILL BE GOING in AGAIN. I BELIEVE that the hostile work conditions at the Pennsylvania plant during the so-called pandemic is the reason that this is HAPPENING AGAIN BECAUSE of HOURS CUT & NOW with the THREAT of JOBS BEING LOST to Thailand. This makes it hard for the worker to be focused. Normally I would never say buy an extended warranty, but if you love your machine and your wallet if is good money spent. just make sure any work you have done that it is Harley compliant. hey, ever it takes to stay in the wind.

[@brianbayowski9265]

Better advice, buy a PRE-WOKE Twin Cam or EVO Sportster! They also SOUND MUCH BETTER than the 💩 they sell today! 😉

[@brandonnickerson8934]

9 times for a 2023, that is awful. My 2015 Raider and 2012 V Star 1300 run better the harder I ride them. Just fluid changes so far.

[@Scout4x]

It isn't just Zeitz... it's some of the board members who are way woke. Zeitz must go, but so must many of the board members. If not, I'm buying and riding something else.

[@djrdubois]

Thanks for this! Shouldn’t the issue of tariff policy figure here, rather than HD’s response?

[@seadog686]

Got at least two (2) Harley stores, in my area, that are closing down. They were preceded by two (2) Indian dealerships. At least one (1) of several local Honda dealers has expanded into a larger facility over the past few years. What does that say to you?

[@jeffross8400]

I could care less about the "Carbon" crap...something that is .04% of the atmosphere is actually pretty low for what it has been historically....they just picked and element and made a hoax out of it.... Harley is DEAD to me...

[@peterwilson8039]

I'm a scientist, so I go with the scientists. If I were a beer-drinking pickup truck driver, I'd probably go with the beer-drinking pickup truck drivers.

[@velcacic743]

Harley-Davidson's CEO is Jochen Zeitz, appointed in Feb 2020, has a tenure of 4.58 years. total yearly compensation is $11.95M, comprised of 16.3% salary and 83.7% bonuses, including company stock and options. directly owns 0.58% of the company's shares, worth $26.89M.The govenor of Pennsylvania secured 89 million to Harley davidson...any more question's?

[@chriscleland7008]

The point of all this is to destroy motorcycling writ-large, not just HD.

[@btominthewind]

I have 1 suggestion for you, if you own any HD Stock Shares.. sell them before HD share value takes a free-fall

[@bikeknight54]

Bob Casey screws us Pennsylvanian’s again.

[@richardsveum8452]

They have already stated that they are moving production away from the states because apparently there isn’t enough profit in selling a 5000 dollar motorcycle for 35k.

[@mikemans4902]

So appropriate that laydyboys will be building HD.

[@BitcoinLadyBoy]

😘

[@timothystallings7191]

Will when I was a kid growing up in the 70s puma was a premium brand.

[@lancekrych3206]

I don’t want any extras on my bike, i mean radios and shit

[@chrishaddad8838]

I bought a new Road Glide. It will be my last Harley. I don’t even know this company anymore. I already miss the old Motor Company.

[@2hotFL]

As always, it's the little guy the feels it the worst. The big mega dealers, those who own multiple dealerships, many now owned by large auto dealer corporations will weather the storm. But the small mom and pop dealers, the few that are left who own just one smaller shop struggling to survive are really liable to take it on the chin with the boycotts.

[@Txcowboy80]

Stellantis CEO says the same BS (I want to change it to a premium brand), you see how good that is working.

[@FormerMPSGT]

Working = WOKING

[@garyroy3133]

CEO needs to go back to Germany. Take your board members with you. Bye Bye 😊

[@MyFishingfool]

It’s commonly known that buying American made costs more due to our wage’s verses other countries. That being said, zero chance you will be able to buy one of the foreign made bikes for the price that wages differ. This CEO is good at making money, especially for himself but as a Harley buyer I want my bike made here by Americans even though it’s going to cost more especially since I won’t pay less if it’s made in another country than U.S.A. Trumps tarrifs were to keep the other countries from putting our steel and metals manufacturers out of business, again, you the consumer pay more but if you want that American made product, suck it up buttercup, support your neighbors jobs. America First, Always. Wheels down brothers and sisters.

[@Wolfpack6D]

one of the reasons the Goldwing became so successful was because of it being built in Marysville OH. Now that it has left their sales have dropped off.

[@ahoneyman]

People aren't buying Nightsters. The CEO is right. Harley needs to focus on high profit high option motorcycles. The days of selling 325,000 motorcycles a year (2015) are over. 150,000 motorcycles is gonna be the norm. The target audience is married couples in their 50's. They have the cash and want the high option bikes.

[@sunsetusa6926]

Guess what? History repeats itself. Indian (the original Springfield co) often ignored their core customer who bought the Scout, which its board and Prez shirked consideration by their testing and engineering team in favor of a total Brit bike copy; glossing over its poor function with celeb marketing and "nicest people" ads--BEFORE Honda came up with the strategy. They also shirked all Chief design improvements over the span of two decades in favor of baubles like, yes, fender skirts, "amen savior" type frames, or pouring money down the pit of Four design changes. Early on, Indian was the first to come up with rear suspension on their big twin as well as battery start and overhead eight valve. After the war, Indian couldn't bill the US Govt for old war contracts due to an IBM inventory update when converting from the "books" to computers for billing and purchase orders and went broke. All the while, the board room bled the company dry issuing dividends and bonuses off the cleaved assets, split the company up and imported Brit bikes into their remaining dealerships. THIS is the model that HD is barreling down and this is how the board is running the company--to its death, and they plan on making a lot of money off the brand cache.

[@rogerhills9962]

Thailand cutting manufuacturing prices but increasing sales price. Recipe for riders going to Indian and other bikes.

[@motorcityfr8tman785]

Companies like Harley don’t make outrageous decisions; like moving production to another country, over a new tax. Taxes come and go. The expense of building a new factory would largely outweigh the tax. It’s time to start seriously looking at Indian motorcycles. At least, they’re not talking about leaving the USA.

[@tonyvitale9775]

I cannot support Harley-Davidson like I used to. Just, like I "USED" to buy Budweiser.

[@MattieXMoto]

I am watching this channel for 1st time. 1. No one is buying rev max harleys. Compared to road glide which is highest production it is a fraction. 2. What is up with all the guns in your background? I believe in gun rights too. But what does that have to do with bikes? 3. Before the dei stuff, the macro economic is hurting harley and Indian and any lux brand. There are 3000 new indians on cycletrader. 11k harleys. 3000 road glides.

[@quincyfry6569]

...2... this isn't his "primary" channel. His primary channel is gun's hence his "ride" channel. It's in the description for the channel

[@MattieXMoto]

@@quincyfry6569 i see. I only viewed. I didnt read description

[@douglasshaw1320]

Does anyone think people are going to buy an HD from Thailand?

[@BitcoinLadyBoy]

We'll see 😘

[@jpooch00]

The 2015 Limited that I bought and then sold a year later will be the last Harley I'll ever buy. No interest whatsoever in the crap they're building now.

[@mldiode]

The CEO is a mole whose goal is to take down the company. He’ll walk away with his golden parachute and not look back. He couldn’t care less about the culture of the brand. It’s happened before with iconic brands.

[@taylodl]

A few things. One, Thailand is the motorcycle manufacturing capital of the world. Most of the world's major motorcycle makes, including Indian, are manufacturing motorcycles in Thailand. It's no mystery why Harley chose Thailand. Two, Harley sales have been continually declining for the past ten years. There are two bright spots in their linuep: the Freewheeler and the LiveWire. Yes, the LiveWire. These are two models whose sales are increasing. Other models include the Sportster S and the Pan American. Notice a pattern for Harley bikes having increasing sales and those having declining sales? Three, and this is important: Harley's "traditional" market is aging out. Young riders aren't aren't interested in baggers and the older riders are now buying trikes. Finally, given the realities of the market and today's riders, what would you do if you were Harley's CEO and were faced with tanking sales of your core bikes and the aging-out of your core market? Harley has to adapt, or die. Period.

[@stevebondeson2852]

A premium brand ? They already had priced the average rider out . And with parts the made in America thing is hit or miss . A couple of years ago during the big mess , i needed a fork tube for my Harley . Aftermarket ones were out of stock . So i went to the Harley dealer because i needed the parts . Ordered the tube and some seals at about triple the cost of aftermarket . I got the parts home and unwrapped them . They were all in harley packaging . But the bags the parts were sealed in were all marked made in china . I shouldn't have been surprised .

[@kimwallace5144]

The whole board rode when bought back from AMF

[@franciscoluna9596]

When a passion for something (A motorcycle in this case) shifts for the passion for money (greed) that is the beginning of the end for every single enterprise in the face of this planet. That's the case of HD, a company that is run, own and controlled for a bunch of people that don't give a damn about a motorcycle.

[@beaujules1]

Indian/Polaris makes a better motorcycle.

[@Chronicas_of_a_rider]

The T-shirt changed! 😂 I know its the promo recording but still funny

[@TheChromeRonin]

I guess it’s an issue of whether you think HD is actually a GLOBAL brand or not. Sure, they make bikes that are excellent for crunching thousands of miles of interstate, but they ALSO make (well, used to) the fat bob, an AWEsome urban brawler. So if some of their products could actually be made closer to my home market, all the better.

[@johnhess351]

Harley's 'devotion' to its customers in past decades was rewarded. Remember the waiting lists and prices above sticker? Then that approach stopped working and sales dropped due to changing consumer preferences, evil dealers, inflated pricing, maintenance nightmares, and global economics. This declining trend has been going on for years as well as plenty of grumblers and defections due to the old policies. HD has been influenced by German engineers and German motor companies for many years. Now, nearly out of desperation, they try to join the mainstream with DEI, etc. It might not work, but when the boat is sinking, you have to get creative. The next evolution will be a total sell out and you complainers, Philistine deserters and fair-weather fan-boys will be to blame.

[@AmericanDirtbaggers]

We need equality among all 573 genders! That should be Harley Davidsons main focus, screw a good motorcycle we need to unburden what has been burdened by what has been.

[@rich4860]

Hahahahahahahahahaha...... Hop we don't get burdened by her stupid ass. God help us all. Get out there & vote and tell your buddies and all to vote Or we are screwed!!!!

[@theaidenman]

In Phoenix I have officially seen one livewire. I was intrigued, but ultimately unimpressed.

[@Bkamaclean]

I don't give a shit who HD advertises too...I ride them because I like them...don't really care who else is riding them or who Harley customers are. Why do people let it bother them so much. Woke and moving production to another country are two different subjects...most people are not getting the proper meaning of woke...it's in the dictionary.

[@josephbentley5799]

I've hear and used the word woke for over 6 years and it's usage has changed a bunch in that time. Just recently I've heard stu

[@josephbentley5799]

I've hear and used the word woke for over 6 years and it's usage has changed a bunch in that time.

[@brucem8129]

But some do.

[@Bkamaclean]

@@josephbentley5799 I'll go by the most recent dictionary meaning myself rather than what some group of people have supposedly changed the meaning to.

[@Bkamaclean]

@@brucem8129 Let them sweat it out...I'll enjoy mine.

[@nbowling10trio]

The more concerning issue if the decision to build in Thailand. Made in America is huge

[@backforty4276]

Harley Davidson’s future will ultimately be the same as Pontiac’s and Oldsmobile and to many other American companies,just. A foot note in history.😢

[@chrischaney9492]

Good evening from Indiana.

[@tommywilliams5734]

I'm almost 60. I bought a used Yamaha FJR with 24,000 miles for 4k last week. It will probably outlast me. No hassles just maintenance and fuel. Ride baby ride.

[@JamesHerbert-k8b]

What would it take to get the CEO and board members replaced?

[@voltz53]

Like someone commented on another channel yesterday....the CEO is preaching "anti-capitalism"...but he definitely wants his $43M annual salary !! That's a lot of money to destroy a brand !!

[@willraven7]

When im tired of my Pan Am, ill get a Ducati or Triumph....DONE

[@nickolaslewis4416]

You realize that both of them produce bikes in Thailand right?

[@BitcoinLadyBoy]

@@nickolaslewis4416 🙏

[@MrMasMola]

I’m 33yo and in May i bought my 3rd Harley. And ain’t paying +30k € for a 4th made in Thailand.

[@ImHarrisB]

My friends and I have been discussing HD’s strategy since JZ took over. We believe that once he’s finished the premium brand move, he’ll sell the company, which will be a very profitable boutique company by then, to an offshore manufacturer. I predict Hero my friend predicts Tatta, but regardless, you get the picture.

[@keithsuits430]

I’m 64 and have been riding nearly all my life. Mini bike, dirt bike, 400cc Honda, Iron head sportster. Evo heritage, two Road Kings and now back to a 2011 Heritage. Honestly the new bikes except for a few of the Icon bikes don’t really appeal to me. But then again I’m old slow and still like chrome. I can’t and wouldn’t even if I could by any motorcycle that is 30 to 40 grand. But hey if ya got it and want those bikes more power to ya. I mostly feel for some of the small family dealers that are left. Most of them have been kicked to the curb by Mr Zeist and the rest of the folks that really don’t share a passion about riding to begin with. Harley has been in decline since Willie G’s departure. Now we may be witnessing a slow death sorry to say.

[@thedragon1322]

I've never been what people would refer to as brand loyal but I've always been a fan of Harley as an icon in the industry. HD finds itself in a difficult situation aside of the DEI crap. All manufacturers are battling with attracting new buyers and the pool of new riders is growing smaller. New styling, new designs, trying to predict and attract people into a product is not easy and part of Harleys issue is stubbornness among the fan base. The hate I see from long term buyers for anything that isn't a bagger or dresser is amazing. They have to present something that will attract riders initially and then welcome them in, along with getting them to invest in their products. Don't get rid of the bikes that defined them but give new and old riders options that compete in every aspect.

[@thangknowa3288]

He should improve the HD Experience to the HD Motorcycle Consumers, and to the HD Motorcycle Investors. To increase share holder value must be paramount. The CEO has failed miserably at this, therefore He should be fired and replaced IMEDIATELY. Screw DEI / Woke, get back to business. I would love to hear Willie G's opinion on this - try for an interview with Willie G!!!

[@dcccharles4569]

A political activist running a motorcycle business is an oxymoron. Conflict of interests and that is Jochen Zeitz for you.

[@jasontgillies]

Harley's letter of retraction of DEI didn't win me over. It sounded like they still believe in DEI, but are going to make a few changes to shut us up.

[@WindyTherapy]

Don’t think as a brand fan but rather as an investor and you will understand. It is always about the money and profits for the shareholders. (not nationalism or flag waving) Just my opinion as a business person and motorcyclist. Cheers.

[@uzifelner6147]

What goes around comes around, chapter 11 is just around the corner. Why don’t we see any, Harley Scooters, Harley Bicycles, Harley ATVs. Old thinking, no innovation what-so-ever, they are stuck in the past!

[@larry648]

Once that production line goes overseas it will never come back. They need a new CEO and stop it now. I’m 60 and not going to be on a dresser forever. I would look at the new Sportster, but not if it’s made in Thailand.

[@dr.danchallice3888]

And he probably drinks Budweiser.

[@stevenmelnyk1174]

You don't get it. When Jochen Zeitz was brought, he was brought in to increase the returns to the shareholders. The result is that there has been a shift in the focus on the customer and, more specifically, who the key customer is. The traditional H-D customer is no longer the key customer for H-D; it is now the stockholder. Shout all that you want but as long as the returns to the stockholder are going up, you are not going to be listened. He will run H-D into the ground in the long run. The Pan American - a great bike and this is from someone who rides a 2023 BMW R1250GS, will be exported because it is no longer important. Never mind that the market is shifting to such bikes. Investment in innovation will fall and the emphasis will be on cost cutting. Returning to the Pan American again, when it was brought out, it was leading edge. That is no longer the case. It has been lapped by the latest BMW R1300Gs. To see what we can expect, look at Boeing, UPS, and McDonald's. I was a supply chain management professor (I retired this year), and I have come to the realization that the worse thing that a company can do is to hire a finance person, an accountant, or an upscaling expert (someone who tries to upscale the brand) as a CEO - they will always fail to recognize that their key customer is not the stockholder but the consumer. In the case of H-D, the people who ride and live H-D.

[@mojomanmurph1925]

You have to research who is on the board and you will be like WTF!?!?! CEO and board needs to go.

[@theoldman8877]

Premium brand equals overpriced carp covered with gingerbread and unnecessary costs, increasing junk. I have always purchased the basic model of everything. Then I add exactly what I need and nothing else .

[@toddlemoine2309]

I was fired for not being corporate enough. In the trenches selling this product for three years

[@over-educated-sp]

Indian, has always been a great bike maker.

[@metaldemon60]

I have been riding motorcycles since a young child. I would never have purchased a Harley before this happened. I wish America would build a motorcycle I would like to ride, but they really don't. I like a lighter bike, with more power. I did own a Japanese cruiser once, and got rid of it because it just wasn't enough fun. So would not buy anything from Hardley at all now. If I buy a bike built over seas, I will buy Japanese or European.

[@TheLastRenaissanceMan]

Produce steel HERE. Make Harley’s HERE! The EVO was made in York Pennsylvania. Get back to that style Harley.

[@wtsherman9378]

What are carbon emissions... do you mean breathing?

[@SpydrByte]

Good informational video but as a vet to another vet, be careful of this giveaway your doing and maybe consult a lawyer before proceeding. Sweepstakes, contest and lottery are the 3 types. This isn't a competition so contest is ruled out. Lottery's ran by the state are legal but private lottos are Illegal. Sweepstakes or alternatively called Giveaways; "All sweepstakes in the United States must meet the following regulations: No purchase necessary. You can enter the sweepstakes without buying a product or service. Winners are required to pay taxes on prizes they win." All it takes is anyone, regardless of participation, to report this giveaway to the FTC.

[@DavidSottilare]

Let me give you the meat and potatoes. First, in 1998 and earlier, your new HOG membership came with a map book in case you broke down. You can find a dealership anywhere in the US to use your warranty. 1999, they suspended that program, so you could not see how many dealerships were starting to shut down. Not everyone needed a motorcycle, which caused H-D to move into a reality of profit only. They hated that the dealerships were making all that money over the MSRP because the contracts that were signed by the dealerships in the 80s and earlier, when H-D wasn't that popular, could not sell more than MSRP anyway. They did not see the future, like a Lambo, Ferarri, Mazarati, lotus, and other high-end toys- H-D never thought they would reach a level that the Pre-owned motorcycles would be worth more than the MSRP of the new ones. So, to combat this jealousy, they started making more and more bikes as if they were Toyota. At the end of this drama, to finalize their fait, they hired a battery man from interstate to be the new CEO in 2002, and he stated that he would make enough motorcycles less than "1" to ensure everyone could get an H-D. Once this man was hired, it was a self-fulling prophecy of non-American-made motorcycles only to be assembled in the USA as HUffY became in 1991. Willie G would not even visit the Top Fuel Drag bike owners, mostly dealer owners in the 90s at the track. He lost his way, and the money took over. Everything has a corrected time, but H-D is down over 50% because 1. Not everyone needs a Motorcycle. 2. This new generation is not into a 2 wheeled motorcycle. 3. The leadership only cared about profit and not the value of its product as an American Made Veteran Club created product after every war ever fought. 4. the passion of the employees was sacrificed by a bunch of used cars and new car-organized scum bags. Let this represent the truth that most people working for the dealerships and the Motor Company are either staying because it is what they must do or love their fellow man's demise. H-D will be consumed "within" as a position related to this. All will fail, and history will repeat itself. They will close on Sundays and Mondays 9-5 once again. They will produce 75% fewer motorcycles than they do today, and many dealerships and power sports companies will continue to close. In the end, it will go back to why this happened. It was a simple truth: they asked a young manager in 1998 how can we get the Melinniul and Z generations to own an H-D. My answer was simple. If you can find a way to strap a PlayStation to a motorcycle and the mother won't worry about their kids, you're gold. Otherwise, make a product that is hard to reach vs. a product of use. H-D should be in the same line as other high-end wanted vehicles. Instead, the battery man and Willie sold their souls to gain the world. If this sounds familiar to what is happening to our country, remember that corporations can take over our lands and take them away as Anaheisure Busch did. It's a slow death from within, and it started with the neglect of our most outstanding businesses and the hard work of our warriors and people of the United States Of America from outside this country. Our leaders are from a caddy shack club, and it's time to close the golf club.

[@nevillegreg1]

Except for paint and price, since when has HD been 'premium'? Technology in HD motorcycles, even today, lags well behind premium brands like BMW, Ducati, and even top of the line Triumph models. Folks are raving on about how smooth the 2024 tourers are, how they now have ride modes (finally!), yet the related tech is old and still no electronic suspension - which BTW was available in my 2013 Triumph - more than 10 years ago. Why is it that we, as HD consumers, do not call out the BS propaganda HD has used for charging higher prices like: you're not just buying a motorcycle, you're buying a lifestyle? But we continue to buy the bikes, go figure! Man, just stop at any popular bike stop/cafe to see that you don't need to be riding a HD to be part of the motorcycle community/lifestyle. And let's consider what HD corporate is doing to our popular and friendly dealerships, the cost of rebranding the stores and reduction in motorcycle sales - perhaps due to the premium cost of buying a new [and truly less than premium motorcycle] (or is that the cost of buying a pretentious biker lifestyle) is resulting in the closure of dealerships across the globe - recently, I head of 5 just in the UK. It's not just jobs in the USA that are being impacted by HD HO decisions.

[@peterwilson8039]

I really believe that if I was in charge at Harley, I would stick with what has always worked well for Harley - which is 800 pound bikes with 60 hp air-cooled motors, and a bare minimum of technology. Harley has learned the lesson over and over - if it isn't what the customers want, it isn't going to sell.

[@nevillegreg1]

​@peterwilson8039 Harley can't sell what it doesn't have. It has never had state of the art tech, not even on the Pan America, it's basic compared to others. But when the Pan America came out with a first in inovation, that the bike lowered as it came to a stop, within a year, BMW and Ducati came out with their versions. You see, there is demand for the tech. And folks have to come to grips that big air cooked inefficient motors do not meet EPA emission standards. And just ask your orthopedic surgeon what he/she thinks about aging/arthritic bones and the impact on them from the shake of a Harley air cooled motor. Live longer and ride longer.

[@peterwilson8039]

@@nevillegreg1 Yes but the Pan America is not going to save Harley. Liquid cooling on bikes is more about letting make more power than it is about making them run cleaner, and the rubber engine mounts on the new Harleys has reduced the vicious vibration of yesteryear to a shadow of what it used to be. When it comes to aging bones, it might be the limited rear suspension travel that's the real threat, but you need the seat sitting close to the rear wheel to get that classic look.

[@studio12archive60]

The board HAS to GO

[@richardmourdock2719]

RE: The move to Thailand. Purely economic, labor is cheap there, American workers want too much. It is not unique to motorcycles. Next ride down the interstate, could the American cars vs. foreign owned. It is very depressing. Economics, like gravity, always wins. Over time, cheap prices win.

[@carlitothatonemotorcyclegu111]

We have three bikes not selling well. Let’s make them somewhere cheaper. Heaven forbid they just make a bike people want to buy. Fucking rediculous.

[@legolwa]

Why pose near guns?

[@shwinkLuck]

I've ridden and worn their logo, don't believe they ever got a nickel from me!

[@dmitriymukhtarov9663]

Yeh, a german lad should not be in charge of a pure American iconic brand... Perhaps he should try leading BMW motorrad?