HD pricing is actually in line with competition at least for touring bikes. Comp to Goldwing and BMW 1600.
Harley Davidson Names Topgolf’s Artie Stars as New CEO
- Thread starter Vercingetorix
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It's actually quite smart. The HD board probably wants to move the image upmarket with deeper pockets.
That sucks! I love cafe racers (I want the Triumph Bobber) and I really like the Pan America - it's the only stock HD bike that I like and I thought Honda or KTM had a hand in it first. A few friends and buddies have HDs but theirs are so customized that it only retains the HD name by nature.
Why don't dealers care about the Pan Americas? It seems like a great step in the right direction to open up their market a little bit more but avoiding the jump to sport bikes.
Deeper pockets? HD is already in the luxury market as it is. They aren’t anywhere near entry level.
Usually they don't. But what they're supposed to have, is good business sense. How to turn a failing company around, and have it start making money. Whether or not they know how to ride doesn't really matter. Having the ability to see what the market is doing, and what customers want. At this point in time, it all about making money, and keeping the company alive and well for the future. Sometimes they hit a home run with who gets the big chair, sometimes they strike out. For Harley it's not too late to breathe some life into a failing company. Innovations that change the bike, but not too much to drive away remaining die hard customers, is the balance they need to achieve.,,
For sure a CEO has to have good business instincts. Sometimes thats enough.
I believe knowing the product and market help.
As a CEO of a comparatively minuscule 100M a year company It's always helped me to understand and interact with the products my company creates as well as understand intimately what my competition offers.
I recently took a 2025 CVO Roadglide ST for a test ride. The TFT dash quit working during the test ride. The salesperson kept warning me how fast it was, and to be careful. It was far slower than the street bikes I already own. Of course they are all Sportbikes
All in all it didn't impress. Especially not for 45k+ all your fees, taxes, etc. Well, it did have nice paint.
All in all it didn't impress. Especially not for 45k+ all your fees, taxes, etc. Well, it did have nice paint.
Watch "The Motorcycle Community Is Dying – Here’s Why"
From my research riders are aging out of the sport and traffic is alot heavier in many cities.Also the distracted driving issue with everyone on there phones has alot of bikers concerned!
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What does your company make or do?.,,
THREE times a year, don't forget the Cosplay Sturgis run.
We manufacture equipment for the television/film/cinema industry.
THREE times a year, don't forget the Cosplay Sturgis run.
That's going on right now. Here's one of the several live cameras you can watch.
Sturgis SD is currently the safest place in all of the USA. All of those loud pipes saving lives...
That's interesting. I don't know if Harley's new guy rides bikes, or ever built one. But he must have some sort of track record, where the powers that be feel he's qualified to do that job. Have you ever starred in a movie or TV show ?.,,
The clientele ruined the image and brand for anyone coming in. Loud exhausts and associations with negative groups in past.
I've never starred in a movie or TV show, but I've worked on and been a part of hundreds of not thousands of shows, films and live events with my clients and friends in the industry.
I majored in TV production in high school and college and I've been in the business since 89, worked my way up the ladder, and the current gig feels like a lifetime achievement award.
Having certain jobs allows you to be qualified for others - for example a lawyer in California can also be a real estate agent.
My familiarity with equipment and process qualifies me as editor, technical director, visual FX supervisor or a producer, switcher operator, or a few other industry roles.
Kind of like medical device guys are often in an operating room showing surgeons how to use certain gear or techniques its a little the same in the entertainment industry - when a new piece of tech hits the market you have to show clients how to use it and that often means running the equipment for the first time teaching it.
Lots of times you are with your client in uncharted territory learning together.
Other simple products are plug and play with no learning curve.
Due to high speed processing nature of the products we end up in other vertical like the defense, security and medical industry. We even had products on the ISS working with NASA.
It's been a thrilling career with incredible rewarding lifetime friendships formed.
Although an achievement for sure, CEO is not my favorite role, nor is it my A game.
I was a better CRO/VP WW sales than I am a CEO.
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