Crisis at Harley Davidson?

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Today's video is about the current Crisis at Harley Davidson regarding social media influencers being unhappy about policies and associations of Harley Davidson with causes they consider unacceptable and are labeled as 'woke'.
Our channel focuses on riding motorcycles specifically in Northern New England, while following trends nationally and across the world. The primary focus of this channel is the Kawasaki W800, however other motorcycles are featured including the BMW G650GS and the BMW R1200CLC.
Motorcycle safety, motorcycle awareness, and motorcycle advocacy are all tenants of the Big Blue Motorbike Dog.

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4 окт 2024

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Комментарии : 47

@IndustrialFaith Месяц назад

Harley owner here. Second HD, last HD. The problem with going Woke, emphasizing Diversity, and DEI, etc, is that due to the nature of Woke, DEI, and Diversity Initiatives, it overwrites any corporate culture that may have existed and becomes the main mission for the company, with the product becoming secondary. It's not hyperbole, it's history. Eventually the company cannot keep talent around, not just because they have the wrong skin color, but because even those of talent with the right skin color get buried under an avalanche of sub-par performance from the checklist hires around them. Also, HD has no entry level motorcycle, or for that matter, ANY motorcycle under 10k. HD cannot offer a current cycle to the new rider that is affordable and has the HD feel. It's obviously by design. Plus, HD stuff is expensive. Even the aftermarket companies charge a premium for their quite ordinary products that "specifically fit" HD bikes. It's not HD hate, it's being an HD owner. It's just more expensive by far. Anyways, excellent video. Keep up the good work! o7

@elwood62 Месяц назад

If you do buy a sportster the guys on Road Glides make fun of you for having a girl’s bike. The Harley culture is much more of a turn-off than the company itself. The exception being that they want to charge you $5k-$10k over sticker and then with a straight face try to sell you the upgrades to actually make it run good. And people view the money they spend as a status symbol. Harley is likely not going anywhere but I wouldn’t care if they went out of business tomorrow.

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

@@elwood62 My one big concern about the largest motorcycle company in the USA is the people employed there, and in the dealer networks. As far as change, I see it as the only constant. We adjust, people tend to be pretty good at adjusting.

@lennyjames65 Месяц назад

@@elwood62 Your wrong....I have 3 Sportsters. I love the quickness and the response of the bike. I also have Two Roadkings and a StreetGlide. In my group of 50 riders I never heard any one belittle another for the bike they own.

@elwood62 Месяц назад

@@lennyjames65 well I’m not wrong, but maybe it’s a sign that guys with Harleys don’t take themselves as seriously as they used to. Some, anyways. Unfortunately, for most people the damage has already been done. 25 years ago my brother walked into a dealership with $20,000 in an envelope to buy a Fatboy. Apparently he didn’t sufficiently look the part because when he walked in the salesman said ‘Another dreamer’. He walked out and drove an hour to the next dealer where he paid cash and trailered the bike home that day. I’ve been around these guys for a long time, I do know what I’m talking about.

@snowlothar45 Месяц назад

At 64 years old, and my wife and I have always been a Harley owners - nearly 20 bikes over the years. I believe that any company should attempt be the best at what they make, and avoid politics of any kind. I don't mind backing your heritage such as Harley and America, or Triumph and Great Britain. However, I cannot support an agenda, in particular a politically divisive one, that has nothing to do with heritage or the brand itself. I will purchase another brand (Indian?) when the time comes. I will no longer support Harley with my funds, unless they quickly correct their mistakes.

@Kvnhidalgo Месяц назад

@@snowlothar45 local geezer yells at clouds

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

@@snowlothar45 thank you for commenting!

@cliffstark1792 18 дней назад

I've purchased three brand new Harleys over the past 32 years. I purchased my current bike in 1999 and haven't been interested in any of their bikes since that time. I ordered my bike and had to wait a year to take delivery. Since then H-D has flooded the market with bikes, which back then claimed they would never do. The only H-D I would buy now is an old Panhead or Shovelhead, like you, I don't need fast, just to feel the wind in my face and the smells of fresh cut grass and people BBQ-ing and of course the beautiful sound to a twin cylinder thumping away. As I approach 60 years old I am drawn back to the bikes of my youth. I really liked the Royal Enfield Interceptor but not quite enough to buy one. Then I saw the Kawasaki W800 and your channel. I've been hooked ever since. That engine is a thing of beauty. I had Kawasaki's in my younger years, two stroke triples and a KZ650 so I am familiar with their quality. At this point I really can't justify another motorcycle but I have been bitten by the W800 bug. I've been enjoying your channel, keep up the good work.

@bigbluemotorbikedog 17 дней назад

Thank you so much for commenting! I have a friend with 4 Harley Davidsons from the 1980s, and a Kawasaki W650 - the Kawasaki W Series is a beautiful bike that has so much joy in riding it. Thank you so very much for you input on the channel! Hoping you can find a Kawasaki W800! There are many low mile used Ws out there, but sometimes you have to dig pretty deep to find them. I was lucky enough to get new old stock, but not many US dealers have them.

@whiteguy5212 Месяц назад

The bikes have been crap for decades. The only reason they sell is image and marketing. Buy another black street glide BROTHER.

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

@@whiteguy5212 thank you for commenting

@keithw1966 Месяц назад

Harley owners are independent and self sufficient overall. Why replace what you repair. Why replace what you can rebuild. Why pay for poorly made newer expensive models when you have a bike you can easily repair and rebuild. Makes good sense to me. Calling people awful names shows us all who YOU really are.

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

I'm all about maintaining and repairing. I've only bought myself one brand new motorcycle in my entire riding career (since 1986) and would rather keep a bike on the road than have to replace it. Thank you for commenting!

@ruben_santos Месяц назад

As an european 40 year old man, I've allways seen Harley Davidson as a true simbol of America.. a brand that represented the true american values, and bikes that represented a unique way of living... ...and it is sad to see, the blind seek for money, to destroy such important brand. Great video!! 😎🤘

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

@@ruben_santos thank you for commenting my friend! I appreciate your insights!

@paulmoss7940 Месяц назад

Cool footage. The rider doubling in front of you likes that yellow line. HD has made a bud Lite mistake they may not recover from. Good video Sir.

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

I noticed that as well (yellow line) - Here (In VT) I stay AWAY from the double yellow - I've seen far too many vehicles that go wide and cross it... I don't want to be there when they do. (I have a very strict 'don't get dead' while riding policy). I hope to never violate that policy. The video is from a memorial ride for the matriarch of Wilkin's Harley Davidson here in Vermont. Absolute beautiful country up here, especially in the Northeast Kingdom.

@Embargoman Месяц назад

Just to say, as to my concern I am sadden that Harley-Davidson could lie about temporary manufacturing of certain models to Thailand as to resulting permanent manufacturing, like Craftsman shifting production to Asia to say after China they move production to Thailand or something. This goes to what foreign manufactures making their products in the United States an example Buick that is an American brand sells a car that is made in China in the USA while Mercedes Benz makes a car in Alabama. This is just a comparison to say that even Honda takes notice of probably set up a factory in Texas to make Shadows, while Harley-Davidson is moving all their production to Thailand. The shift goes to Indian taking the number one spot away from Harley and probably could also be ending up with Texas becomes the motorcycle manufacturing capital of America that all the motorcycles that are built in Texas are made by a Japanese manufacture that at first when they made motorcycles in the USA they started in Marysville, Ohio. It is sad but true just like Indian is made in Iowa, as Polaris sales are being healthy but at the end motorcycles that are built in Texas will be the number one sellers in America and to say Texas makes all the motorcycles sold in America to lead towards Honda making all their motorcycles in Texas. Sad but true!

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

I agree, assembled in the USA is something a lot of foreign companies can state. There's a lot going on with companies constantly looking to increase profits (translation - lower manufacturing costs, by outsourcing that to countries with inexpensive labor (which is why so many companies manufacture in Asia). I'm not a C level executive, nor a board member of a company, so I can't say for sure what happens there, but it does seem to be about maximizing profits instead of making sure the company is profitable while keeping jobs in the USA and quality manufactured parts sourced locally. Harley Davidson has been an instrumental part of motorcycling for over a hundred years (1903). It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Thank you for commenting.

@Embargoman Месяц назад

@@bigbluemotorbikedog Well Elon Musk is the wrong choice for Harley-Davidson because he would bow to Consumer Reports to satisfy them and shift production to China. On the other hand Carlos Ghosn will set up manufacturing in Southern States for example have a large manufacturing facility in Texas where unions are not involved and production from Pennsylvania moves to Texas for the US market in a facility where is fully automated and then he hires Erik Buell to be in charge or to be second in command. Well York, Pennsylvania will close and move production for the US and North America to Texas, probably retooled Kansas City to be fully automated, but most Harley-Davidson bikes will be made in new plants in Southern states like Tennessee, Alabama and Texas and then Pennsylvania closes and move it’s production to Texas; in a modern fully automated facility, then he opens up shop to make motorcycles for the European market in The Netherlands. Then when Trump is president Ghosn will be replaced by Erik Buell because the FBI well send it’s agents to Carlos Ghosn house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Carlos Gohsn goes to jail in Japan while Donald Trump is president and Erik Buell takes the ship of Harley-Davidson. That is what will happen Trump voters is making Erik Buell the next CEO of Harley-Davidson and Carlos Ghosn will be on the FBI Most Wanted list for Financial Fraud only to send Carlos Ghosn to jail in Japan.

@edwinbrown3303 Месяц назад

I own 5 HDs now been riding HD 25 years. Not only will never buy another. I am taking the badge off of all of them

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

@@edwinbrown3303 thank you for commenting

@Candywarhol Месяц назад

It's ironic that in this "w0ke" fiasco, the right-leaning customers who don't want corporate to get involved in politics are, themselves, VERY dedicated to a narrow political mindset. I got my first HD in the 80s. Riders are aging, times are changing, and people making corporate decisions already have plenty of money.

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

@@Candywarhol thank you for commenting!

@Enregardant Месяц назад

I wouldn't mind a word or two, either at the beginning or the end of the video, about the circumstances of what we're watching. Model ridden. Event. Locality. Anyway, thanks for the video.

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

I appreciate the feedback - this was a memorial ride for the matriarch of Wilkin's Harley Davidson (dealership) - I'm riding a 2011 G650GS.

@omnivore2220 Месяц назад

"There are many reasons why companies will subscribe to supporting the programs, including attracting investment firms which control trillions if dollars..." That's not a reason because it ignores the reason why said investment firms would require "woke" policies. This reminds me of the rabbit warren located near a gardener in Watership Down. The gardener was systematically exterminating the rabbits, but none of the rabbits would talk about that or mention it in any way. They were too fixated on the bounty of the garden to want to see the horror of what was being done to them. Large international financial firms, manufacturers, etc., are conspiring with governments to fundamentally transform Western Civilization, and you all know it. But what you probably don't know are two key points; 1. "Western Civilization" is more correctly understood to be Protestant civilization, and 2. Laudato Si and Fratelli Tutti are the blueprints for this transformation.

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

@@omnivore2220 thank you for commenting

@FredVanderhoek Месяц назад

It seems to be basically about the money. All the bike companies are getting more and more money oriented. I do believe Almighty God has a wonderful change of planes for US.

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

It definitely seems to be about investor money anyway.

@CostosLotsamoula Месяц назад

It seems a lot of Harley owners are the ones who are showing disloyalty with their own fascist agenda. The company needs to make a profit to stay in business and yet Harley owners rebuild and accessorise their bikes with aftermarket parts. Why is that?

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

I *think* you mean aftermarket like non-harley davidson pipes, S&S motors, mustang seats, like that? Yes companies need to make money, I agree 100%. As someone who has modified almost every bike I've ever owned (sometimes just cosmetic stuff) I usually go 3rd party for several reasons. 1 - sometimes the manufacturer doesn't make the part that I want for the modification (i.e. bar risers, comfort seats, crash bars etc.,) and 2 - when they do - it's usually a lot more expensive than some of the 3rd party companies - and 3 - usually the run of accessories for a model of bike dry up really quickly from the manufacturer and I tend to hold on to motorcycles for a very long time. (I sold my 1984 BMW R100RTp to a friend for $1 in 2014 with 330,000+ miles on the clock). I agree with you that if you like a certain brand of product, company internal policies shouldn't make much difference to anyone, unless you work for said company and are against being employed by a company with policies you disagree with. Just my .02

@charlesbynum Месяц назад

I think they shouldn't let culture war partisan political nonsense to override that common sense they've always been so quick to proclaim as their own. Grandma talked of people being so full of hate that they would cut of their own nose just to spite their face. Turns out Grandma was right. Some people are silly enough to do just that.

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

@@charlesbynum Grandma seems to have been a wise woman.

@billbertrand7751 Месяц назад

MR.CUSTER LOOK OUT THE INDIANS ARE COMING🎉😂

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

@@billbertrand7751 😂 that's a good response! Thank you for commenting

@markfortin8286 Месяц назад

With Harley, it's hard to know where to start. I've learned that it's better if I don't. Harley folks generally don't appreciate my commentary, and everyone else has moved on. 😄 Seriously, though, I'd encourage people not to get drawn into it too much. If you're a Harley guy or gal, don't spend too much time on this stuff, and get out there and enjoy the rest of the riding season!

@bigbluemotorbikedog Месяц назад

Excellent advice sir!