Topic: Harley buys MV Agusta

[bill440cars]

      I think you all know my own feelings about Harleys. I will have to say that I'm glad they managed to stay in there all these years, by whatever means. Just my own observations, but they seemed to make improvements and such from the beginning and up to a certain point (not sure exactly, since I'm not really a Harley person, but seems like they started loosing steam some time ago) an now and then they would make some changes, then go for a spell, make a few more changes (some being brought on because of the competition) and so on. I never understood why they didn't look into trying to come out with some different style bikes (of their own, not somebody elses)  Now, if a person happens to be a Harley fan, more power to him and I'm not trying to cut on that person's ride. Just my own 2 cents and that's all.

[Ecosse]

Umm Ichi,
 Harley was making twin cams in the 20,s already..

I was not comparing their engineering against other bikes, just pointing out that they havent made any advances in 39 years was not exactly correct..
 were inovators
oh.. btw who was first with throttle by wire.??

This is the point I tried to touch on. Harley and Indian, Like Miller and Duesenberg autos, were innovators.
While I really do respect 'Heritage' part of said heritage, as it pertains to HD, should be not becoming stagnate. HD of the 20's certainly weren't.


HD was making twin cams in the 20's and that was cutting edge for the time. So what happened I think was in order to revive the company after AMF they needed to re-start at the beginning so to speak; getting back to ones roots. Smart move and necessary I think.

Time to move on?

[ieism]

So do we think that with their infinite marketing, planning and financial resources, Harley will try to make MV sell just more motorcycles? Or will we be seeing cheaper MV's soon to compete with Ducati and the Japanese manufacturers?

What happens when MV wants to go racing, or simply wants to build a cutting edge bike no matter the budget or costs?

I remember the MV F4 CC was basically a custombuild handmade bike for Claudio Castiglioni, the director of the company.
I fail to see how that is a good business decision, even though they made a few more later on, but it did produce perhaps the most stunning motorcycle of the past decade.  I can't see Harley approving something like that.

[Ecosse]

So do we think that with their infinite marketing, planning and financial resources, Harley will try to make MV sell just more motorcycles? Or will we be seeing cheaper MV's soon to compete with Ducati and the Japanese manufacturers?

What happens when MV wants to go racing, or simply wants to build a cutting edge bike no matter the budget or costs?

I remember the MV F4 CC was basically a custombuild handmade bike for Claudio Castiglioni, the director of the company.
I fail to see how that is a good business decision, even though they made a few more later on, but it did produce perhaps the most stunning motorcycle of the past decade.  I can't see Harley approving something like that.

All good points. Maserati, Ferrari, and Aston were all uncompromising in their designs and it meant the end for each as independent companies. A larger brand buys them sometimes for very sound business reasons and then eventually proceeds to destroy what uniqueness made the doomed brand desirable. God, that's a depressing thought. 

To repeat a problem you mentioned; a big company and it's bean counters won't often approve those projects not projected to set sales and profit records.

Still, one needs to ask whether or not they'd rather see a company like MV evaporate into oblivion. When AMF swallowed up HD at least it gave the brand a reprieve and allowed it to live to fight another day, so to speak.  Same situation as with Chrysler, although the jury is still out on that one.

[winnipeg550guy]

Most likely what will happen is HD will send over an army of Lawyers looking for any MV trademark infringements in Europe. Then they'll flood the market with ridiculous MV branded merchandise, anything from  chap wearing little teddy bears to MV brand engine oil.
 Then they will introduce the worlds first MV Bagger decked out with all sorts of unnecessary billet dress up parts. Then if they can actually find and hire an engineer or two they will probably start making "HD/MV Performance" upgrades then an MV could be as unreliable as a HD. Mind you all this will happen after the previously mentioned lawyers try and trademark the sound of an MV   

[DarkRider]

Im amazed that no one else has mentioned this but MV is currently housed or at least was currently housed in the old HD/Aeromachi plant...

[Ecosse]

Im amazed that no one else has mentioned this but MV is currently housed or at least was currently housed in the old HD/Aeromachi plant...

My history's a bit fuzzy but didn't HD own the majority of Aeromachi and sell rebadged versions of small cc bikes for the US market?

As they say: small world.

[Ecosse]

OK, confused... is Aeromachi and Aermacchi the same company?  Did a quick Google and it jogged some brain cells a bit and I seem to be under the impression they could be.

OK, I'm lost.

[DarkRider]

Im amazed that no one else has mentioned this but MV is currently housed or at least was currently housed in the old HD/Aeromachi plant...

My history's a bit fuzzy but didn't HD own the majority of Aeromachi and sell rebadged versions of small cc bikes for the US market?

As they say: small world.

Correct..i could be wrong on the spelling of the name though..Bill has one of these bikes actually...