🌿 HD WILL NOT CHANGE AS LONG AS THEY HAVE THE SAME PEOPLE RUNNING IT ⚧️ THEY WILL JUST KEEP A LOW PROFILE ⚧️ IN MY HUMBLE OPINION 🌿 LOVE FROM MISSISSIPPI USA 🇺🇲
That firepower is awesome!! I think the Harley issues are cyclical. A lot of big companies go through it, work hard, get popular, sell out, tank, then get revived by someone with passion for the brand. I’ve seen it a lot. Unfortunate, but it really is basic greed. I’m not a Harley owner, but where I work is going through the DEI BS, and it is terrible. I like how you said it. Be human to each other. The rest will shake out on its own.
I could go on and on about Harley dealerships. Why do they have to charge two to $3000 over sticker? Harley’s been in trouble for quite some time and it will continue to get worse. Every rider I pass on a Harley looks like me, gray hair gray beard. Once we are gone Harley dies too.
Yeah, I know a lot of HD riders (all of my friends) but I don't know anyone under 40 years old who rides one. I'm sure there are lots but the sales data is still very worrisome for HD's future.
I agree in our 30's we couldn't afford Harley's even used ones. In our young 40's wife has a sportster and I have a Buell. I actually liked the Revolution engines and Rev max.
Good points all around. I like HD and I liked the HD culture while I was part of it for awhile. I think it sucks with the current CEO. HD really needs to make some changes by doing some heavy purging of him and the current board of directors. Anyway. Having owned 2 HD Ultras and an Indian Challenger, I really like my 2023 Goldwing DCT Tour I bought not long ago. Overall a great bike. My wife and I enjoy the peace and quiet and handling of the Wing.
Harley Davison is out of touch with their customer base and potential customers. I question what the CEO is doing. I feel like he's setting up the company for Acquisition
I've had that same feeling for years now, like Zeitz is getting HD ready to sell it off to some larger company. His obsession with share price over everything else is concerning.
The CEO just sees HD as a company, he don't care about culture, customers or what the brand stands for, he is just interested in the bottom line... until he goes NOTHING will change!
That's just about every CEO for every good company. At the end of the day, it's about profit margins. I'm a stock investor in Harley Davidson. I couldn't care less about a so-called HD culture, or it's customer base. All I care about is if the company is profitable and will it continue to grow. Harley Davidson is a publicly traded company. Their #1 goal, like all publicly traded companies, is to appease the stakeholders, because we stakeholders own the company. All we care about is profit margins and continued company growth. However the company has to do that, that's all the matters. That's just the cold hard reality of it, as hard as that is for HD lifers.
@@themapmaker5374 I get it, a company is about making money for its stock holders, however if a company pisses off its main customer base with stupid policies then they deserve to go to the wall. Your comments really make me wish HD goes down and you lose all your money. A real stock holder should be concerned what this CEO and board members are doing and vote them out asap and get a CEO and board in that support the brand and culture that HD is well known for otherwise it will end up being a dead duck in the water
it's such a fantastic culture too. don't like it? go get some other bike, stop the whining. you bought a motorcycle, not the company. get over yourself.
@@mikeadams2351 the CEO is ruining the culture. Yes I brought a $30,000 motorcycle 6 years ago but I will not buy another one, like I was gong to in the fall, if the company supports trans kids ops and is anti-whiteness plus other DEI crap
I'm not sure if we even have the manufacturing base to actually build motorcycle parts in America anymore. Lots of the factories that used to make those parts shut down a long time ago. It would be great to bring them back, if it's economically feasible to do so. But, in the meantime, assembling the motorcycles still provides lots of jobs for Americans. The fact that the parts are imported in no way justifies shipping the entire operation overseas.
I got yelled at by a Harley guy for this: The thing was a video where it was stated that Harley dealers were unreliable, don't care about customers and mechanical service was crappy and over priced. This Harley guy commented that he was very happy that he found a reliable mechanic for his Harley. I commented that I did not need a reliable mechanic becasue I own a Honda.
I don't care what Harley does I just wish they made a quality product that was worth the money they charge I have a 2024 Road Glide and it is not impressive for the money
Great video and greetings from the Columbia War Machine crew. I just subscribed and shared your video with friends. I'm the FPV drone pilot on the video shoots. 😀
I gave up on Harley Davidson. Went to a local BMW dealership where they don't play those kind of line item charges and BS games to pad their profit. Rode out on a R1250GS. Better than a Harley Davidson in so many ways.
I think most Harley riders won't want to buy the foreign made models. I probably wouldn't either, but its sad because the Pan America is the best bike Harley makes in my opinion. Might as well change the name to the Pan Thailand now. 😡
As far as putting no price tags on Harleys, At the dealer they’ve been doing that in my local town in ,Ohio for quite some time now different people get different prices for different bikes, that’s been going on for a long time and it’s not right😮 HD fix this 😢
@@MotoMengy It started in the Pandemic. Dealers started upcharging on the MSRP. They saw an opportunity and they went for it. Don't blame this on Harley. The dealers are independent entities and do what they want.
I do not care, I think people should just enjoy their motorcycle, whether or a Harley or Honda and leave the politics out of it. I could not even tell you anything about Honda other than they make a great motorcycle and cars. Thats all I want out of the company I buy from. There are some real things in my life, like family and friends that I want to save my energy for. Be safe, have fun and thanks for the video.
There is a difference between being ignorant of a company's politics and companies being apolitical. Companies have no business dabbling in politics one way or another. Their job is to provide goods and services to customers. Not dabble in social engineering and try to reshape the world according to their supposed values. That is for people to decide. Not soulless corporations.
I agree, but I think the CEO and board of directors should do the same thing. Leave politics out of it and just make the best bikes they can for ALL customers, not specific types of people.
@@dragonslayer1294 No sir, I don't give a crap about all that Harley stuff. Just because I don't want to go along with all the politics you call me woke. I am a free American and served this country with honor, I will be whatever the heck I choose.
@@dragonslayer1294so not only are you a snowflake, you disrespect someone who is actually indifferent. Someone who truly exemplifies the motorcycle ethos of riding your own ride. I can sell you a Baby On Board sticker for your Harley…any size, any font and any colour…rainbow if you want. I can also change the word baby to bigot or snowflake at your request.
Is all the negativity on social media coming from people who actually ride Harleys? I bet most of the negative comments are coming from people who don't even ride bikes. As to the dealer inflated prices, that's on the dealers. Harley has no control over that. From what I understand though, inventory is starting to pile up on the dealer lots now.
I'm sure thats true, but much of the backlash is also from actual HD riders. Inventory is indeed piling up, something I'm sure HD corporate is none too pleased about.
Perhaps HD realizes the mistake they made by associating the brand with a fake wannabe biker lifestyle all these years, one that potential new riders don't identify with, and they want away from it. It's a valid point and one that's been discussed in numerous FB groups for awhile now, along with price/cost to own, dodgy quality and other factors. Boycott the brand all you want, just realize the CEO doesn't care, and you're just going to tank the resale value of your own bikes. Win win for the dealers--they buy back a ton of bikes for cheap and just sit on them until all this blows over. Yep. And the little sh*tstain "Robby Starbucks", the guy who started the whole woke panic, will be long gone.
As somebody who, many years ago worked at a Harley dealership, Harley wouldn't survive without it's legion of dedicated followers. They want what they want, and the only smart thing for Harley to do is to satisfy that demand.
What am I going to do about all this? Nothing, no wait, I am going riding. The all mighty dollar is going to be the only motivator to change a company. Strikes may happen, and maybe even a boycott, who knows, get on your bike, go for a ride, and enjoy the chaos.
It's a whole SNAFU, isn't it? I did a whole video on how I see it... but yeah, I still haven't seen any local pushback. It's probably region-specific, though... and Harley went back on the DEI stuff, supposedly. We'll see how it pans out long-term.
I have to tell you, living in South Dakota, that this issue is not a small one. At the same time destroying a motorcycle that you obviously liked in the past to make a statement is stupid. In order for Harley corporate to truly fix this they would not only have to fire the CEO, but the entire board, which includes companies like Black Rock and Vanguard. Eyes have been "opened" up here and let's face it, even dealer behavior has been atrocious. You reap what you sow!
The guy that destroyed his harley could buy 15 Harleys, new ones with the cost of his weapons used so I doubt he was to concerned about the old harley he destroyed.
I almost wonder if the RevMax line moving has anything to do with the old CEO. Maybe project was too far down the pipeline for them to cancel after the change. Almost every time I go out, people want to talk about the bike. They do not know what it is or question the HD logo on the tank. Those of us that ride the bikes seem to be the only advertisement.
My brother constantly gets curious strangers asking him all about his Pan America. There are still tons of riders out there who don't know anything about these Rev Max bikes, even today.
I don't really have much of care about it BUT with that said of course I do have opinions on it. I feel the CEO was just put in there to "connect with the next generation". Prior to him all you heard was how HD riders were dying off and getting older and older. They brought him in to change that. The protests and hype IMO like many things are just momentary reaction and will quickly fade. Those who always bought Harley, those who are "in the culture" will continue. Many 1% clubs would have to change their doctrines. I think the CEO and board really needs a whole change. IMO the board should be made up of dealers. Cannot verify but the one dealer owner complained before that there is very little influence they have on the Motorco.
I used to feel this way but my thinking is changing about this. Lots of my friends are considering leaving HD for Indian over the past few years. If that trend starts to gain momentum it would be very bad for HD.
I was listening to the Cleveland Moto Podcast and Phil Waters brought up a lot of good points. the one that I was thinking about is the protest where the harley got shot up. It was still a viable bike. So you're destroying a viable bike, that could use parts sold from a dealership, that needed work done by an independent or dealer shop. Then the ammo was that good made in the USA ammo or was that Chinese Ammo?
When you use the word WOKE you lose all credibility. Harley riders are the problem. Have fun fixing your Harleys with parts from eBay if your attempt to bankrupt Harley-Davidson is successful. Then maybe you can buy a better bike for 2/3 the price that is more reliable.
I disagree with you Jim 1000% on that. Well, at least the "Harley riders are the problem" part. I kind of agree with the "buying a better bike for less money" part, its why I now own a Goldwing! 😂
@@MotoMengy I have a Valkyrie, but shifted to riding a RE Hunter 350, it is just a lot more fun to ride. I switched because of health issues, the Valkyrie is just too heavy, but medium bikes are just so nimble it is just pure joy to ride.
Be woke if you want, who cares???? I care. Harley Davidson has always scammed people. Remember the '90s? I do. I tried to buy a '95 base model Sportster back then. They wanted TWICE msrp for it, and I'd have to wait for 6 months to get it. I told them where to stick it and left. In 2003, I bought my first Harley. A beautiful low mileage 1989 FXRS Low Rider. I still have it. I have bought 5 Harleys total, and still have 2 of them, the other being a 2002 Sportster 1200C. A REAL Sportster. H-D has never gotten a penny from me. As far as the Rev Max GARBAGE, those are not Harleys. They don't look like Harleys, they don't sound like Harleys, and they don't feel like Harleys. There is nothing Harley about them. Even the M8 bikes do not sound or feel like Harleys, and it seems like almost all of them are FLAT BLACK. I will NEVER own a flat black motorcycle. What I do care about is all the immoral stuff H-D is doing. They are after our kids, trying to turn them into freaks. Without the parents knowledge. I am a father and a grandfather. I won't let that trash anywhere near my grandkids, and neither will my son and daughter. I am seriously thinking about selling my Harleys. I do not want to ride something made by a company that supports this garbage. There used to be a law called "Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor" I don't know if it still exists or not, or if it is enforced or not. But what H-D is supporting is far worse than that, and apparently it is LEGAL?? WTF???
My first new HD was a '98 Wide Glide, and I had to order it and wait 8 months just get it. I remember those waiting lists for new bikes, those were crazy times but then so is today in different ways!
HD is a problem. Their customer base is a problem. Old men in fancy dress. Just how sustainable is that. $50k bikes for wannabe punks. I can’t stand the HD crowd.
That's fair, I understand the HD community and culture though as I was one of them for many decades. In some ways I still am even though I ride a Goldwing now.
@@MotoMengy I bought a beautiful 2008 Royal Star Venture, what a great bike, V4, 1300cc. The stupid questions I was asked by some of the HD crowd was just annoying. First question, 'why did you not buy an HD' .... 'because I like this one' .... 'and its 1/4 the price' .... OH.... I'm torn between a wing and my bike, which is now obsolete. The Indian Pursuit takes my fancy, or a BMW K1600. I just don't see me buying an HD.
Also the 'woke' thing has been so politicized its ridiculous. These policies benefit the workers, so why would the customer care who or what or how their bike is built, so long as they get a good product at a good price. HD's best engineer or chief mechanical designer could be a guy who wears a dress and goes by a different pronoun. They should want this person to be treated well by the company. DEI means giving that black, Asian, women or foreign guy a chance, so long as they have the skills, education, training and drive to do the job. This diversity is good for a company. The best still get hired. The company I work for only hires the best, and we have great diversity within our company. Our products are sold worldwide and no-one gives a damn if we have DEI and woke programs. We are proud of what we build.
Sorry, you lost two faithful subscribers with this video. As soon as you started with the “woke” and “DEI hires” business, my husband and I lost interest in what used to be a fun channel to watch. 😢
In 2022, Woken Zeitz made $43 million as CEO of HD. They sold roughly 178,000 bikes that year. This means that every person in the world that purchased a Harley paid an extra $242 directly to Woken Zeitz. Worst anti-capitalist in the world. Or he could have given his compensation that year to all approximately 11,000 worldwide employees. Each person would have received $3900. Total hypocrite. Get rid of this guy and the board that allowed this. Paying a German guy millions of dollars to sink an American Icon. The same bikes that helped fight the Germans in WW2.
