Author Topic: Harley plant in KC bites the dust (Read 6530 times)

Duke McDukiedook · « **on:** January 30, 2018, 02:23:20 PM »

Not good news for Harley or KC at all.

https://jalopnik.com/harley-davidson-is-sad-and-getting-sadder-1822557878

MikeSimon · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2018, 08:46:09 AM »

Had to be expected - sort of. KC made the V-Rod, Dyna and Sportster. With both the V-Rod and Dyna gone rom the line-up KC would have been able to survive only with another line, like Softail, transferred there. Volume was probably not enough to do it. With the decline in sales and production, there is room enough for the Sportster in York. Don't really know where they make the "Street"??

Dunk · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2018, 11:02:48 AM »

Who buys a Harley anymore? More surprising is the electric motorcycle mentioned in the article. Gee, that's gonna be the hot ticket to sell more bikes to what's left of the pirate parade crowd...

Kevin D · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2018, 04:36:15 AM »

On a related note, HD has a new factory in Thailand along with others in India and Brazil. The foreign plants are in place to avoid steep trade barriers, and are not the reason for the KC closing, so says Matt Levatich HD CEO.
KC -800 jobs, York +450 jobs
Sales high in 2007 at 300000+ units, now on a slow slide 2014-2017.
2017 production 241498 units
2018 predicted 236000 units worldwide
WSJ 1/31/18

BigJimG · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2018, 08:15:55 AM »

Quote from: MikeSimon on January 31, 2018, 08:46:09 AM

Had to be expected - sort of. KC made the V-Rod, Dyna and Sportster. With both the V-Rod and Dyna gone rom the line-up KC would have been able to survive only with another line, like Softail, transferred there. Volume was probably not enough to do it. With the decline in sales and production, there is room enough for the Sportster in York. Don't really know where they make the "Street"??

The "Street" was also assembled in KC for the NAFTA market. Engines and other components along with "rest of world" production for the Street series is in their India plant. I don't know what the NAFTA sales numbers for the Street 500/750 are, but I'd be willing to bet that if they continue NAFTA sales, they will be assembled in India as well.

754 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2018, 08:34:43 AM »

Quote from: Dunk on January 31, 2018, 11:02:48 AM

Who buys a Harley anymore? More surprising is the electric motorcycle mentioned in the article. Gee, that's gonna be the hot ticket to sell more bikes to what's left of the pirate parade crowd...

Well over 200 ,000 folks in 2017 apparently. .241,498 bikes made.

MikeSimon · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2018, 08:45:11 AM »

Quote from: 754 on February 01, 2018, 08:34:43 AM

Quote from: Dunk on January 31, 2018, 11:02:48 AM
Who buys a Harley anymore?
Well over 200 ,000 folks in 2017 apparently. .241,498 bikes made.

May sound like a lot, but isn't really - if you look at the whole picture, i.e.: total motorcycles made and sold worldwide.
I wish someone would provide a number of HDs repossessed and used bikes less than 2 years old sitting and waiting for a buyer.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2018, 08:45:49 AM »

Quote from: 754 on February 01, 2018, 08:34:43 AM

Quote from: Dunk on January 31, 2018, 11:02:48 AM
Who buys a Harley anymore? More surprising is the electric motorcycle mentioned in the article. Gee, that's gonna be the hot ticket to sell more bikes to what's left of the pirate parade crowd...
Well over 200 ,000 folks in 2017 apparently. .241,498 bikes made.

More bikes than I made and sold.

Duke McDukiedook · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2018, 08:48:21 AM »

Quote from: Dunk on January 31, 2018, 11:02:48 AM

Who buys a Harley anymore? More surprising is the electric motorcycle mentioned in the article. Gee, that's gonna be the hot ticket to sell more bikes to what's left of the pirate parade crowd...

You never know, if the electric bike they make is decent I would think about buying one; pirate parade crowd be damned.

slikwilli420 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2018, 08:51:08 AM »

Quote from: MikeSimon on February 01, 2018, 08:45:11 AM

Quote from: 754 on February 01, 2018, 08:34:43 AM
Quote from: Dunk on January 31, 2018, 11:02:48 AM
Who buys a Harley anymore?
Well over 200 ,000 folks in 2017 apparently. .241,498 bikes made.

May sound like a lot, but isn't really - if you look at the whole picture, i.e.: total motorcycles made and sold worldwide.
I wish someone would provide a number of HDs repossessed and used bikes less than 2 years old sitting and waiting for a buyer.

Bingo. Its not a lot of bikes in one year, but add it up over 10-15 years and there are millions of them out there. One big issue I have heard mentioned in the past is that many of the most hardcore Harley riders never actually give a penny to HD except when buying HD clothing since they buy used, keeping HD from ever getting a bike sale from that person. People can save a bundle buying last years model from the guy who has to have the newest everything and that's what many do.

72 yellow · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2018, 12:29:55 PM »

Quote from: Dunk on January 31, 2018, 11:02:48 AM

Who buys a Harley anymore? More surprising is the electric motorcycle mentioned in the article. Gee, that's gonna be the hot ticket to sell more bikes to what's left of the pirate parade crowd...

Haters be hatin'....

MikeSimon · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2018, 01:34:29 PM »

Sure, there is a lot of Harley-bashing out there. Most of it is a reaction to the HD crowd snubbing their noses at all others who do not ride a HD. I used to ride Harleys a lot, at one time I owned 4 of them. Down to one now.
Let's not underestimate the positive effect HD has on motorcycling in the US. If there weren't all these mid-life crisis, well-to-do Harley riders and a large manufacturing and employment base, motorcycling in the U.S. would be under a lot more pressure by the P.C. portion of the society. There would be less of a lobby for all of us, definitely.
Let's just hope, Harleys will still be bought and the company will be around for a long time. Makes sure our friends in Washington and on the local level will have it very difficult to ostracize us.

ekpent · « **Reply #12 on:** February 01, 2018, 01:41:43 PM »

Too bad for the guys working there. Sure they were good paying jobs and a cool place to work. Sounds like they did not see it coming. Overall the sales of bikes in the USA are just but a small pittance compared to other parts of the world like Asia and India etc.. Its the reason we never get some of the cool stuff over here. Also a reason why Harley is moving some manufacturing overseas and building some smaller bikes.

dave500 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2018, 01:42:18 PM »

harley wheels were made here in Australia at Adelaide,where today ground is being dug up (again)to hopefully find the three missing Beaumont kids abducted in 1966.this factory is also closing. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-31/new-castalloy-to-close-with-120-jobs-lost/9377982

dave500 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2018, 01:48:01 PM »

its been a mystery for 50 years.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-02/beaumont-children-possible-grave-excavation-begins/9382506

Kevin D · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2018, 01:55:26 PM »

Quote

Who buys a Harley anymore?

Wish I owned this one:

Kevin D · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2018, 01:59:29 PM »

Quote

three missing Beaumont kids

I hope the searchers find what they are looking for. Sounds like it is too late to punish the criminal.

dave500 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2018, 02:03:11 PM »

its live on Australian channel 7 as we speak,the dig is about to start,media is making a bit of a spectacle of it all?

bwaller · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2018, 05:04:40 PM »

Sounds like the country is on the edge on their seats. No wonder it's a hard wrenching story. Let us now how this ends please Dave.

MoMo · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2018, 05:22:29 PM »

One plus of the KC plant closing is it will bring more jobs to this area. A shame all those people are additions to the unemployment line...Larry

Desert-SOHC · « **Reply #20 on:** February 01, 2018, 05:46:06 PM »

Quote from: 72 yellow on February 01, 2018, 12:29:55 PM

Quote from: Dunk on January 31, 2018, 11:02:48 AM
Who buys a Harley anymore? More surprising is the electric motorcycle mentioned in the article. Gee, that's gonna be the hot ticket to sell more bikes to what's left of the pirate parade crowd...
Haters be hatin'....

its really kinda funny to listen to them...................they think anyone who rides them are RUBs....clueless.

ofreen · « **Reply #21 on:** February 01, 2018, 05:51:31 PM »

Quote from: Dunk on January 31, 2018, 11:02:48 AM

Who buys a Harley anymore?

Yeah, who could possibly want one?

eigenvector · « **Reply #22 on:** February 01, 2018, 06:08:43 PM »

Christ, how much did that thing cost - 40 grand?

Harley isn't going out of business, 200k is plenty of sales - but they are basically a niche market at this point. They cultivated that bad boy image all these years to bolster sales - it worked, but it can't take them any further. Now they need to start cultivating a more typical motorcycle image. Still "bad boy" but without the attitude.

That electric bike would be a great way to start.

ofreen · « **Reply #23 on:** February 01, 2018, 06:46:54 PM »

Quote from: eigenvector on February 01, 2018, 06:08:43 PM

Christ, how much did that thing cost - 40 grand?

Naw, it's just a Road King. Since Harley is soon to be extinct, they gave me a good deal. Better get 'em while you can.

754 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 01, 2018, 07:13:34 PM »

I am thinking 30 or less..

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Author Topic: Harley plant in KC bites the dust (Read 6530 times)