motowebmaster

I enjoy browsing the Harley site from time to time, and had read a review about the new VROD, but this may make me a convert:

motowebmaster

Check out the multi-media stuff at:

harley-davidson.com/muscle

motowebmaster

Sat on an '09 Black VROD Muscle today. It is an impressive machine, but wasn't sure If I was going to like the riding position.

The good thing is that the bike is serviced and ready to test ride. Maybe the weather will be favorable next weekend.

The price was a turnoff as well, but it seems that every cruiser I've looked at has been north of $17k, regardless of what it was made of.

SidecarFlip

HD had better 'breathe some life in the Company'.

Their stock has lost 68% of it's value, closed Friday at 15 and change.

They will be looking for a 'bailout' soon.

Talk about bad timing. HD bought MV at a really bad time, not that it was a 'good buy' in the first place.

I didn't realize, but I was told that the reason there are so many used, late model HD's available at the dealer is that HD, in order to keep it's unit sales high, resorted to financing that was less than stellar and a large portion of bikes available are repossesed units.

I considered Willie G to be a little better businessman that that.

The Prophet

That V-Rod is an interesting bike. Some love it, some hate it. It definitely didn't catch on with the hardcore Harley crowd - as low sales would dictate - as it doesn't have that common "harley" appearance. Looks like a Rocketeer version to me anyway.

Both Cycle World and Motorcyclist magazines thus far have given it poor reviews as a result of the "one-hour" seat time from the ergonomics - or lack of.

I always wonder if the manufacturers ever read these reviews, and / or take what the public says seriously. Most likely not, as if they did, the ergo's would have been improved from last years offer.

Economy-wise, watch for people now going out and buying gas guzzlers again, as the "fuel crisis" is deemed over. Six months from now, when the government watchdogs are no longer carefully watching everyone, and the focus is elsewhere - the prices will surely creep right back up.

By the way, a great lesson learned during this recent Real Estate / Mortgage economic crime-wave: If you want to get filthy rich quick, go ahead a commit crimes, just make sure that:

a.) They are clearly considered "white collar" crimes.
b.) Your criminal acts are fully protected by big business legalese.
c.) Government people are involved with, and also profit very healthily from your crimes.
d.) The crime is large enough, and public enough, to cause a Global Economic meltdown. This way, as no one wants to associate themselves with you in any possible way, your name will be totally cleared.
e.) Lastly, and most important, make sure you are a certified socio-psychopath, as caring about your fellow man would definitely be a hindrance to your henoius criminal activities.

Good Luck!

SidecarFlip

Somehow, I believe 'gas guzzlers' are gone from the vocabulary...for good. GM as well as Chrysler (the unofficial home of the gas guzzler) are probably gone as well. Fords will be around. Maybe not the way we all know it, but it will survive. Remember, not only is Chrysler privately owned (Cerberus Capital) but Ford is too. The Ford family has enough wherewithal to contain the National Debt and they will not let Henry Fords dream languish.

That's way off subject.

I could resent the referral to the VRod as a Rocketeers bike. I have a Rocketeers bike, the R3 and mine is quite comfortable for an hours ride or a weeks ride.

I strongly suspect that the next 12 months will write HD's story good or bad. I liken the position of HD as compared to Triumph in the early 70's. Increasing pressure from competition, the ever weakening dollar and more stringent emission regulations as well as manufacturing deficiencies will write the next chapter in their novel.

Whether it will be a short story or a continuing saga remains to be seen.

Speedtrip

Since we are already off topic I'll chime in. Looks like GM and Chrysler are asking for a bailout or part of the 700 billion $ bailout. Nancy Pelosi was on the tube this morning saying that she thought we should do this. The auto manufacturers better watch what they wish for because they may get it in spades. Pelosi and company are already saying that if they do this they want to have a say in the direction of the company's, like what kind of cars they produce mileage standards and most surely union contracts where cars are built and whatever else they can think of. Having the US government run large scale industry is frightening. Does anyone remember British Leland once upon a time there where Brit auto company's once. A subsidized auto industry is like curing a wino with whiskey.

I'm not sure that bankruptcy is a bad thing for business that have been run so poorly, GM would probably survive it and maybe come out better on the other side. Just my 2 friggin cents!

BTW Shawn let me know when you go test ride that HD I'll tag along and check out the Buells.

__________________
-Shaun-

SidecarFlip

I don't claim to be clairvoyant but GM isn't going to survive without a cash infusion. They are real close to the point where they won't be able to pay their suppliers...that's why the wanted Chrysler, for the reserve cash that Chrysler has.

Forget the 700 billion. There is already and has been 25 billion earmarked for the auto manufacturers. I don't understand Pelosi...does anyone?

I heard Gettlefingers commentary on WJR live and then read his comments in the paper. For the life of me, I can't understand why the hell Gettlefinger is the spokesman for the automakers. He's the President of the UAW (U-Ain't Work'in). That's it. His membership is dwindling and his days are numbered and stupidly, he backed Obama to the tune of 5 million of his members dues. Obama is 'right to work' 100%. Gettlefinger is an ass.

Remember one thing....Who builds cars and trucks in the United States? Answer...The Automakers. Who supplies the union labor in the auto plants? Answer...The UAW. The UAW don't build cars and trucks, the American Automakers do. Gettlefinger needs to get his scheme of how things work correct.

Finally, in today's paper, there is a quote from Gettlefinger saying in part....'We aren't going to take anymore concessions from the automakers. The problem is the economy and the economy needs fixed and right away'...... This guy needs to wake up and smell the roses. Maybe he needs to move to Alaska and chum up with Sarah Palin. They both have the same mentality.

I live in Michigan and I'm adamantly against any form of assistance by the Fed for the automakers. Let the strongest survive and the weak die. A cash infusion will only prolong the ultimate demise....at the taxpayers expense.

Remember one thing and never forget it. All those billions and billions...numbers we can't even comprehend, is TAXPAYERS money. You and I, everyone with a Social Security Number, and we seem to have no say in what or how it's dispersed.

I like what Ron Paul said about the 'bailout'. In part....'The Federal Government really has no plan to extract the economy from the state it's presently in. The Bailout money is being thrown randomly on fires that flare up and not really being used with any type of forethought. It's merely a stopgap that is prolonging the end'.....

End of rant.

The Prophet

Sidecar - no offense meant at all by the "Rocketeer" comparison. I was referring to the recent movie and the comic strip of the forties, not the Rocket III. The art-deco style appearance is what I meant. The Triumph does NOT look like a Rocketeer bike to me, but the V-Rod does. The two are barely comparible in my viewpoint. Nuff said.

Re: The Bail-out of the Auto Industry. I agree, let them fail. Rewarding Executive incompetence and poor decision making with Taxpayers dollars - which will absolutely no doubt be lost forever - is total foolishness. Yet another 'bound for failure' scheme of the embarrassing Bush regime. Why on earth would we listen to these people. Jan. 20 cannot arrive too soon!

Let the Automakers - GM and Chrysler - fail, the top overpaid execs can get jobs at other soon to fail corporations, and the shop floor employee's - at least the good ones - will get absorbed by Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc. The asian automakers will fill the market void left by the exit and downsizing of the big three for sure with quality, fuel efficient, reliable vehicles. Hopefully in the same plants in the Detroit area, but they may want to start anew. The jobs of the shop floor will be saved, and the overpaid execs will get exactly what they earned by their respective actions.

Lastly - is all of this not a result of the "MBA" craze of the 90's ? As you may recall, during the 90's, everyone and his brother went out and got an MBA from one of the many diploma factories that sprung up to support the sudden overwhelming demand. There was a recent study done of the top investment houses in New York. The ones that were led by MBA equipped exec's failed the worst, while the ones without, and some with less than undergraduate degrees, faired the best. Could there be a connection here? What is being taught in these MBA programs? Certainly not ethics or moral responsibility.

The Prophet

Here's that article in MotorCyclist that I refered to:

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/fi...cle/index.html


Again to Sidecar - sorry if I unintentionally offended. In 39 years of riding, I've made it a point to never, ever make a negative comment about another riders personal bike. I don't do that, as I consider it low class, and a sign of a newbie - non-enthusiast.

Be it a tourer, a scooter, or a Whizzer - all are bikes, and all are wonderful and of great interest to me. Please reconsider your viewpoint of what I wrote.