ATK & Hyosung get inside the Harley dealer network

[Baz]

Well considering Korean made bikes are complete junk, this will be a step up for HD.

They said that about Hyundai 5 years ago and since then they have equalled quality of any of the North American auto makers. (according to the consumer reports).

Don't count them out just yet.

It is safe to say that I probably would not buy one of their bikes, but I do think they fill a market niche. If their low priced bikes get more people riding, then good on them.  

[dinkwinkerson]

First of all, ATK has not been Austrian for many years.  That ended when they stopped using Rotax, (couldn't buy them anymore), and started cobbling old Cannondale's together.  Second, They are not Entrepreneurs, they are flim-flam artists, promoting smoke and mirrors.  If only everyone could tour their "factory" with no tooling or anything but a shabby little office, they would laugh with contempt.  I just hate to see others taken in by this B.S. story.

[dinkwinkerson]

Here is a link to a photo of ATK's GIANT factory.  Note, this is the whole thing and part of it is up for lease.

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/Looplink/Profile/Profile.aspx?stid=/brokers/naiutahcom&LID=16500618&LL=true&UOMListing=&UOMMoneyCurrency=&RentPer=PY&SRID=815996570

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[Kootenanny]

Stuff Harley.

They wrecked MV Agusta.

No, they "wrecked" Buell.  MV Agusta is still in business...and the new F4 doesn't look half bad...

[boogeyman]

Here is a link to a photo of ATK's GIANT factory.  Note, this is the whole thing and part of it is up for lease.

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/Looplink/Profile/Profile.aspx?stid=/brokers/naiutahcom&LID=16500618&LL=true&UOMListing=&UOMMoneyCurrency=&RentPer=PY&SRID=815996570

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winky - You appear to be the only one claiming their factory is big.  I didn't see anyone else claiming they were ginourmous.  Perhaps I missed it.  Here's a link to another little factory where another company you're familiar with started...

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Media/images/Content/Pictorial/H-D_History/hd26760g.jpg

[chornbe]

winky - You appear to be the only one claiming their factory is big.  I didn't see anyone else claiming they were ginourmous.  Perhaps I missed it.  Here's a link to another little factory where another company you're familiar with started...

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Media/images/Content/Pictorial/H-D_History/hd26760g.jpg

tsk tsk... enough with the facts. There are opinions afoot!

[Croak]

And an agenda too, it seems.  

[dinkwinkerson]

I'm very familiar with Harley's start.  ATK's is the opposite.  They were growing pretty well back in the early days.  Since Franky got ahold of them, they have been getting smaller and smaller until they almost don't exist.  Trouble is, they keep talking their big talk like they are relevant so they can attract more capital to keep paying their bills without really producing anything.  And then people like Dale pick it up and make it sound like they are some kind of great shakes.

[Kootenanny]

...And then people like Dale pick it up and make it sound like they are some kind of great shakes.

Hmmm...I read back through this thread a bit, and nowhere did I see Dale making ATK sound "like they are some kind of great shakes."  Seems to me he was simply reporting something he'd heard--that ATK had a deal in place to sell some Hyosungs through some H-D dealers.  I didn't pick up much opinion, either positive or negative--more like "Just the facts, Ma'am."

You, on the other hand, seem to have a chip on your shoulder about this Frank White (whom I've never heard of, and don't care about) and ATK (again, never heard of 'em).  Seems a bit of "Methinks he doth protest too much!"

[dinkwinkerson]

Read Dale's entry on his blog.  He is talking out of his rear end.  You too are, by your own admission, opining on something you know nothing about.

Yes, I do not like ATK.  If you knew what I know about them, you would understand why.

[dinkwinkerson]

 

You ride a Harley Deuce according to your thingy over there on the left. Correct?

Check out the "made in..." stickers all over your Harley parts. Just saying.

(I'm allowed to call you out on this: I own, and love, a Harley.)

At least the main parts are made in USA, i.e. the engine, frame etc.  Sure a lot of the little things are made overseas.  Unlike ATK's new 100% Korean kimchi bikes.  (I do enjoy kimchi!!)

[dinkwinkerson]

And an agenda too, it seems.  

Everyone has an agenda.  So do you.  It is human nature.  So does ATK.  Some people's agenda is more pure than others.  Franky's agenda is to get money for himself no matter how he does it or who he screws.  Many people are that way, it is just that the people that are really successful in life are people who do what the say they will and are honest in their dealings with others.  This is not the case with respect to ATK.  They make up big stories about their stuff and get people to give them money and time for some future payback that never comes, while Frank supports himself with their money.

[chornbe]

Hmmm...I read back through this thread a bit, and nowhere did I see Dale making ATK sound "like they are some kind of great shakes."  Seems to me he was simply reporting something he'd heard--that ATK had a deal in place to sell some Hyosungs through some H-D dealers.  I didn't pick up much opinion, either positive or negative--more like "Just the facts, Ma'am."

You, on the other hand, seem to have a chip on your shoulder about this Frank White (whom I've never heard of, and don't care about) and ATK (again, never heard of 'em).  Seems a bit of "Methinks he doth protest too much!"

+1 1/2

Dale's posts are generally very well stated, free of much (if any) agenda or editorializing. He seems to genuinely care about objectively stating what he's heard, read or has been reported.

I enjoy his posts and site.  

[dinkwinkerson]

+1 1/2

Dale's posts are generally very well stated, free of much (if any) agenda or editorializing. He seems to genuinely care about objectively stating what he's heard, read or has been reported.

I enjoy his posts and site.  

I agree, usually what he writes is pretty neutral.  It could be that in ATK's case, he just doesn't have the resources to really check out what Frank is telling him.  I have heard Frank tell some real whoppers several times.  He stretches holes in the truth.

[chornbe]

At least the main parts are made in USA, i.e. the engine, frame etc.  Sure a lot of the little things are made overseas.  Unlike ATK's new 100% Korean kimchi bikes.  (I do enjoy kimchi!!)

"some", "most", "main parts", "little things".

Yeah.

[dinkwinkerson]

"some", "most", "main parts", "little things".

Yeah.

Harley never claimed to be 100% made in USA but the majority of every bike is made here.  I've been to the Capital Drive plant and seen them making motors etc.  Have you?  The heart of every bike is the motor and the frames are made here too.

[chornbe]

Harley never claimed to be 100% made in USA but the majority of every bike is made here.  

That's my point. The whole "made in America" thing is old and trite. Look, I'm all about bolstering the US of A. But the fact... the undeniable and indisputable fact... is that we live and operate (and now, THRIVE!) in a global economy. Much of what comes out of Ford and GM, especially, is "made" in Canada or Mexico, but we sure do like waving those American flags over our American and American Made products.

It's flat out hypocrisy.

My point is, you were ragging on the contents of the article (for several reasons, to be fair, reasons about which I don't care) over the whole American made argument. It's time to let that part of the argument go... Almost nothing is purely American any more. If it was, no one could afford it.

[dinkwinkerson]

That's my point. The whole "made in America" thing is old and trite. Look, I'm all about bolstering the US of A. But the fact... the undeniable and indisputable fact... is that we live and operate (and now, THRIVE!) in a global economy. Much of what comes out of Ford and GM, especially, is "made" in Canada or Mexico, but we sure do like waving those American flags over our American and American Made products.

It's flat out hypocrisy.

My point is, you were ragging on the contents of the article (for several reasons, to be fair, reasons about which I don't care) over the whole American made argument. It's time to let that part of the argument go... Almost nothing is purely American any more. If it was, no one could afford it.

The difference is making something other than the name plate in the US.  In Harley's case, they still do actual manufacturing in the US which means jobs.  The ATK hypocrites are now sticking a name plate on a Korean bike and calling it American.  That is a HUGE difference.  It is true that most stuff is not made here anymore.  My point is ATK still touts made in the USA, and even lies about "integrating Korean parts with their American and European parts".  There is no integration.  They are trying to fool people, (which is their core competancy).