Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig
I don't want one, but HD needs some kind of rational business plan. What they sell is really a niche product that became very popular in the 80s when the boomers were in their 30s and 40s. They made a strategic error by not using that market advantage to build a new, younger consumer base with other products. They also made the mistake of increasing their capability to keep up with a temporary demand. Now the boomers are getting older and the kids are not interested in their product. They are basically screwed, and they did it to themselves.
I remember when Porsche did the same thing with the 944 in the 80s, when those cars were popular with the boomers for a few years. For a while, everybody and their brother was driving a 944, than it ended and the market moved on. Porsche had to regroup and figure out what their real market was. Can you imagine what would have happened if the 944 was their only product?
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Funny you mentioned Porsche & Harley in the same post.
Harley had Porshe collaborate in designing the V-Rod "Revolution" engine.
Nothing pedestrian or antiquated about the VRod...Just not a big hit. I always thought that maybe they should have introduced a 750cc version as a step in to the HD showroom. The V rod was too fast and quiet for most guys getting into Harleys for the first time.
Scary fast and powerful..and no noise telling you the engine was revving like crazy....
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/26/automobiles/a-harley-takes-an-engine-from-porsche.html