Harley Davidson put hard word on AMPS

[MD]

I can understand the manufacturers reasons for wanting a sole franchise for their brand.
Unfortunately the reality is the struggling motorcycle industry, both worldwide and especially in NZ with only 4m peps, wont support this luxury. The bikes must sell themselves on their merits. Our shops need every tool in their belt just to survive.

I think H-D are wrong if they believe seeing another bike in a showroom might lose sales. Sometimes it will. But H-D are assuming that someone looking to spend $10k, $20k or $40k on a bike wont actually bother to shop around, do some comparisons, check out the choices and decide on what suits them best. If they are a Harley fan, they will only buy a Harley so who's in the showroom is irrevelant. If unsure what they want they will shop around and compare anyway. Putting more choices in one showroom may actually help by the shop becoming a 'go-to' place. That's how supermarkets came into being, mega hardware stores etc.

This just worries me because we need every shop to survive.

[GrayWolf]

I can understand the manufacturers reasons for wanting a sole franchise for their brand.
Unfortunately the reality is the struggling motorcycle industry, both worldwide and especially in NZ with only 4m peps, wont support this luxury. The bikes must sell themselves on their merits. Our shops need every tool in their belt just to survive.

I think H-D are wrong if they believe seeing another bike in a showroom might lose sales. Sometimes it will. But H-D are assuming that someone looking to spend $10k, $20k or $40k on a bike wont actually bother to shop around, do some comparisons, check out the choices and decide on what suits them best. If they are a Harley fan, they will only buy a Harley so who's in the showroom is irrevelant. If unsure what they want they will shop around and compare anyway. Putting more choices in one showroom may actually help by the shop becoming a 'go-to' place. That's how supermarkets came into being, mega hardware stores etc.

This just worries me because we need every shop to survive.

or we need the dealers to tell HD to 'rack off'...once they start to lose dealer numbers?? The message will get through.... As I said, have Triumph, Guzzi, etc instead.

[Road kill]

Oh yay, this will now descend into another lets slag each others bike shit fight.

No it won't.

I like both Harley and Triumph.

I just don't like AMPS is all.

[Road kill]

There are plenty of Harley owners who aren't in it for the costumes, and who have owned multiple "brands"

I know a number of people that have switched back and forth from HD to Triumph.

Damn things are just bikes, Not as if you fuck em.

6 Triumphs 2 Harleys.

If I had money I'd have both.

[boman]

This seems to be more than a rumor. Both Rob, upstairs, and Shane downstairs, told me this when I was in there on Friday.

I guess my Triumph business will go to the very helpful Hamilton Motorcycles, rather than the very unhelpful Holeshots.

[Drew]

They've always been 'keen' to see their dealers being only HD. But whilst they've gotten heavy handed with Triumph, they've never with Suzuki. Guess they don't see Suzuki as a direct threat.

Which is funny to me. The M109r is a fuckin fantastic bike, and although some people Will not stray from HD, others I'm sure are easily tempted by the significant financial advantage of the Suzuki. Not even considering the capabilities of the two brands machinery.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Which is funny to me. The M109r is a fuckin fantastic bike, and although some people Will not stray from HD, others I'm sure are easily tempted by the significant financial advantage of the Suzuki. Not even considering the capabilities of the two brands machinery.

Mate...an M109R IS an awesome bike. But at 22 odd grand...vs an HD at 23500.00 (with factory alarm, two years roadside assist, cheap insurance, better resale etc etc)..that argument is no longer valid.

[Road kill]

Which is funny to me. The M109r is a fuckin fantastic bike, and although some people Will not stray from HD, others I'm sure are easily tempted by the significant financial advantage of the Suzuki. Not even considering the capabilities of the two brands machinery.

Some people would get it but you'll have to work it out for yourself,,,unless your Asian I guess.

[Drew]

Mate...an M109R IS an awesome bike. But at 22 odd grand...vs an HD at 23500.00 (with factory alarm, two years roadside assist, cheap insurance, better resale etc etc)..that argument is no longer valid.

Hmmm, well that certainly does make them a lot closer financially.

[SMOKEU]

Ok. So if they can make a decent bike like that why are they scared of Triumph?

For the same reason Apple tries to sue any competition.

[jafar]

They've always been 'keen' to see their dealers being only HD. But whilst they've gotten heavy handed with Triumph, they've never with Suzuki. Guess they don't see Suzuki as a direct threat.

Triumph in NZ is a small family company & doesn't carry any weight in the multinational corporate world. Suzuki in NZ on the other hand is owned by Suzuki Japan, they do carry a lot of weight & arn't afraid to use it. HD would be buying into a much bigger fight with Suzuki NZ than with Triumph NZ.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Triumph in NZ is a small family company & doesn't carry any weight in the multinational corporate world. Suzuki in NZ on the other hand is owned by Suzuki Japan, they do carry a lot of weight & arn't afraid to use it. HD would be buying into a much bigger fight with Suzuki NZ than with Triumph NZ.

It's got nothing at all to do with that mate trust me.

[jafar]

It's got nothing at all to do with that mate trust me.

I'm sure your right pete, but it is interesting that HD seem to be having a go @ the (relatively) small player in the NZ market & backing away from taking on the likes of Suzuki.

[Crasherfromwayback]

I'm sure your right pete, but it is interesting that HD seem to be having a go @ the (relatively) small player in the NZ market & backing away from taking on the likes of Suzuki.

Well the thing is mate...Triumph in NZ is near neck and neck in sales with HD for new sales of 650cc plus motorsickles. Suzuki nowhere near it.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Hmmm, well that certainly does make them a lot closer financially.

the rort in the Harley Hyphen Davidson range is the sportsters. They are too expensive here and too close in price to the base big twins. they need to be priced closer to their US prices.

MHO