So apparently Harley sold 40,000 bikes in Europe last year.

[1KPerDay]

Yeah, they're doing terribly.

[JamesG]

Cryin' all the way to the bank...

[Rincewind]

   "Amerika ist wunderbar"

[chornbe]

I wish I had their problems.

[scott-sts]

As good a job Harley has done in the US protecting it's copyrights and such, I think they dropped the ball a bit in Europe.
First, It is very, very difficult to export a Harley.  I personally know Russian exporters that cannot get around the red tape involved in exporting a Harley to a foreign country and believe me, these guys are experts at getting stuff in to Russia while bypassing customs.  One of these exporters works out of Toronto and it's the same thing for him.
I visited Moscow twice and spoke with Russian bikers at a popular meeting spot and found out there are no Harley's in Moscow.  Yes, there is a dealer but nobody can afford a Harley!  They ride decked out Yamaha "Star" cruisers (There is a pretty decent aftermarket for accessories).
IMO, they can sell more than 40,000 bikes in Europe if they want to.
 

[1KPerDay]

kay

[scott-sts]

Sorry.  Sometimes I think this is a motorcycle site.

[CosmicHD]

Wow, 40K bikes.

I guess some of the people in here would now suggest there are 40K dumbasses in Europe.

[1KPerDay]

Oh... there are. Way more than that; trust me.


There are about 258.93 Million certified dumbasses in the U.S.A., also, according to my calculations.

[Baz]

Wow, 40K bikes.

I guess some of the people in here would now suggest there are 40K dumbasses in Europe.

As an employee of a European owned company, I can tell you that 40K is a very low estimate of dumbasses.

[Galo]

There are about 258.93 Million certified dumbasses in the U.S.A., also, according to my calculations.

 

[Baron Samedi]

I do sympathise with the pirates in Yorp. But. If you need/ want a Mericun cruiser, that stops, is well made and finished and is reliabull, why not a Victory?

[scott-sts]

I do sympathise with the pirates in Yorp. But. If you need/ want a Mericun cruiser, that stops, is well made and finished and is reliabull, why not a Victory?

You base this on what?
The only reason to buy a Victory is to not own a Harley.

[jackinthebox4]

can you picture it?  Road Kings on the Stelvio?
with those wacky pants w/o the part in the middle.

carving those turns.  I'd pay for that vid.

[Baron Samedi]

You base this on what?
The only reason to buy a Victory is to not own a Harley.

I base this on these simple things:

I want a HD
But I want it to be well built
I want proper paint
I want it to stop
I don't want to spend £6K making in to a useable Bike
Enuff

[scott-sts]

I base this on these simple things:

I want a HD
But I want it to be well built
I want proper paint
I want it to stop
I don't want to spend £6K making in to a useable Bike
Enuff

  I'm sorry man.  I forgot who you were for a second.
OK, so you want a Harley but don't want to pay for it and feel it would need mucho sheckles in modifications to meet your expectations.
OK, good.
Why do you think a Victory is "Better" than a Harley?
It isn't.
It probably stops better but build quality, price and relialibilty are not "Better" than a Harley.

Sounds to me like you should buy a '92 Concours and get on with your life.

[Mookie]

I think a VRod would do most of those things.  Too bad it's not a Harley  

[1KPerDay]

I want a HD
But I want it to be well built
I want proper paint

I got a buddy in Scotland who has been bashing Harleys most of his life. He has gone through about 6 bikes in the past 2 years (X11, ZZR1200, VFR, etc.) and just bought a Harley Dyna Convertible. He loves it. Go figure.

Have you actually examined H-D paint? It's pretty much the benchmark in the industry. Their paint is extremely good. They actually use chrome and metal, not chromed plastic like some of the knockoffs. Their new bikes have good brakes. The bikes are very well built and reliable, if you actually look at the statistics.

But if you actually cared, you'd know that. However, I think you don't care. You just like bitching about Harleys like 97% of STNers. NNTAWTT.

Victory makes good stuff too... particularly the last couple of years. Not my cuppa, but good bikes.

[DaleFranks]

I do sympathise with the pirates in Yorp. But. If you need/ want a Mericun cruiser, that stops, is well made and finished and is reliabull, why not a Victory?

Because they're, you know, ugly.  Big fat jugs that look like blenders.  General Arlen Ness-inspired wierdness.  Ugh.

For Harley, they're probably giddy that they're selling bikes overseas.  It's kept their profit picture from looking like a total bloodbath.  International sales are up 11%, partially offsetting a 9% drop in dometic sales.  So their overall sales are down "only" 4% in the last quarter, and 16% from last year.  Without those overseas sales, Harley would be looking like a definite "sell" recommendation.

Or, rather, more of one than it already is, since the share price has declined 36% over the last year.

[mr moto]

i cannot find sales figures for all of europe as a whole , but i did find motorcycle/scooter sales figures for France . http://www.moto-net.com/informations-67-Marche-moto-2008.html
just click on the pie chart,s for the sales numbers .