Topic: Proposed Buyout of Agusta by Harley?

[bill440cars]

        Have you all heard about the Agusta buyout proposal by Harley Davidson?    Talk about a motorcycle brand with a lot of history behind it! Hat to hear that Augusta is having trouble and is gonna have to go that route. I get a monthly email from About.com Motorcycles and that was the top item on it.

 

[BobbyR]

Since Harley is in trouble, what sense would that make?i

[nickjtc]

Since Harley is in trouble, what sense would that make?i

HD in trouble?? Can't they sell every single one of the 350,000 motorcycles they make every year?

[pdxPope]

I don't know anything about HD having financial woes (although with the 'chopper' craze coming to an end, it wouldn't surprise me.)
But I do know that the Italian marques routinely do the receivership/buyout/bailout dance.

I thought they were currently owned by Piaggio.

-JP

[BobbyR]

Harley had to shut it's plants for a week earlier this year to due to excess inventory. They offer financing to every yahoo that walked in the door, so their repo rate is through the roof.

[bill440cars]

Since Harley is in trouble, what sense would that make?i

         Don't have a clue


          Here's where I got my info: http://motorcycles.about.com/b/2008/06/05/harley-agusta.htm


          Maybe Yes, Maybe No?

[DarkRider]

Maybe they are finally starting to realise that the old designs they keep regurgitating arent cutting it anymore..

[BobbyR]

Here is another story about the proposed sale:

http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/06/05/afx5083163.html

[Rocking-M]

I've heard that perhaps Harley is trying to make it into the Superbike races with a strong runner,
which MV would certainly be.

However, once Ape Hangers and forward controls are put on the Agusta's I don't think
they'll be as competitive. 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Maybe they are finally starting to realise that the old designs they keep regurgitating arent cutting it anymore..

No, I think all of us old guys already have 1 Harley. Market and old guys are drying up  

[DarkRider]

Maybe they are finally starting to realise that the old designs they keep regurgitating arent cutting it anymore..

No, I think all of us old guys already have 1 Harley. Market and old guys are drying up 

as i said..the old designs arent cutting it with the newer buyers...about the only Harleys i like are the XLCR and the Nightster...

[FunJimmy]

If Harley want's it, it's for an in-house team to work on Buells.
Rotax engines are good but overly available.
MV Agusta is an italian marque that might be able to complete with Ducati in the sport bike arena!

[magnus72]

HD bought Aermacchi
AMF bought HD
HD sold Aermacchi to Cagiva
Cagiva restructures, renames to MV Agusta
HD proposes buying MV Agusta

 

[Steve F]

Maybe they are finally starting to realise that the old designs they keep regurgitating arent cutting it anymore..

   

[Raul CB750K1]

HD bought Aermacchi
AMF bought HD
HD sold Aermacchi to Cagiva
Cagiva restructures, renames to MV Agusta
HD proposes buying MV Agusta

 

MV Agusta, founded by Count Domenico Agusta, existed long before the Castiglione Brothers founded Cagiva near the italian city of Varese -(CArlo GIovanni VArese).

MV Agusta will probably follow Benelli's path: a small factory with a strong brand image but short of cash, at the mercy of the market predators. What escapes me is what do Harley want MV for. MV Agusta is a cult, niche brand, with just two main bikes: the F4 and the Brutale. They don't even have a dealer network. Their biggest asset is their chief designer, Massimo Tamburini -former founder of BIMOTA (being TA the initials of "Tamburini" but I don't remember from whom where the other two initials)

[tramp]

spotrbikes are a huge market that harley can't tap into because of thier name and marketing stategy
however, they can buy a company and get in that way

[eldar]

I see the harley management killing MV though. They are only used to marketing the hd lifestyle, not a sport bike style. Maybe they can learn?

[Raul CB750K1]

Well, that would make sense. Using the wide HD dealer network to sell MV Agusta bikes, another exclusive product only targeted to the well-pocketed. I guess they have done the math and expect to sell a zillion MV bikes until they start to recover their investment.

[FunJimmy]

They are only used to marketing the hd lifestyle, not a sport bike style. Maybe they can learn?

Ever hear of Eric Buell?

[DarkRider]

Even Buell is getting tired of HD..otherwise they wouldnt be building bikes like the 1125R

[Raul CB750K1]

If I'm not wrong one of the latest Buells have a Rotax engine.

Harley V-twins can be squeezed in Buells to give more go, but at the end of the day, you need a different engine if you want to appeal to serious sport riders.

[DarkRider]

If I'm not wrong one of the latest Buells have a Rotax engine.

Harley V-twins can be squeezed in Buells to give more go, but at the end of the day, you need a different engine if you want to appeal to serious sport riders.

The 1125R is that bike raul...