Okay, let me try to relieve your confusion:
The 100,000 mile 'hack has been hooked to the BMWs, currently the R80ST with the R100GS as a backup that hasn't been needed.
The HOG(NYSE) bike has never been hooked to a 'hack. I toyed with the idea of "hack'n it, but experience has shown that it simply wouldn't survive parade duty and other tough jobs like the airheads have. There's also the matter of parts availability- I often run a tight schedule of events and need parts in a couple hours or less when something breaks. The week's long wait for HOG(NYSE) parts would mean missing too many events and destroy my credibility. As for Dennis Kirk, I live 60 miles from them and simply rode up and picked up the part, just like I should be able to at the HOG dealer.
Sorry, but that's the facts. Given there stateside location and huge volume HOG(NYSE) should have the best parts and service availability in the business, but they don't. Their massive profit margin should allow them to reinvest and develop the most up to date products, but they've chosen short term profit taking instead. Is it no surprise that CHP just rejected HOG police bikes because they were so unstable they couldn't even complete testing? Or that Chief one of the county's largest PDs, himself a Harley rider, recommended buying BMW police bikes instead of Harleys after test riding a BMW? Unfortunately the City Council overruled him and the Motor Officers will be stuck with HOGs for a few more years...
No comment.
Originally written by SideCarOne on 11/1/2006 1:21 PM
Their {HOG(NYSE)} massive profit margin should allow them to reinvest and develop the most up to date products, but they've chosen short term profit taking instead.
Up to date?!?!? Doesn't the standard Harley motor still use a common-crankpin crankshaft that ensures the roughest running possible by forcing both pistons to move up and down together in near lock-step? You know, like all of the state of the art V-twin motors had back when the design was introduced in 1909...
Oh, and as far as the Harley Davidson Company profit motive... They just last month tried to renegotiate the current union contracts to force the workers to take pay and benefit cuts before the end of the contract term. This after reporting record profits. The carrot/stick they used was that they were trying to decide if they were going to build their new production facility in Milwaukee or some "cheaper labor market"
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=519526
Many Harleys are already "born in Milwaukee" in name only... And yes, they DO outsource some of their components from overseas... Made in the USA, rahh -- bull!!
(and no, I don't think the Aprilla-built F650's and F800's are real BMWs either.... {I even still question the K-bikes...})
YMMV
Well, I'm not going to get in all this. I will, truly get back on topic and say that I am always impressed with the parts I can get for my 75 airhead. My dealer is one of Beemers top 10 service departments.... YOu'd be amazed with the conversations I Have with their master tech...
"While we were talking, I came up with a small list of things you may want to replace on your bike..."
It came to a whopping $60... and it was all on the shelves. I needed some stuff for a friend of mine's Earle's Fork bike.... in stock at the dealer.
I crash my new one on a freeway. Poof, its better than new. I've never been anything but absolutely delighted with the service of my Beemers. I'm glad I don't have to debate it with others. I'm glad I don't ride anything but.
There's certainly a lot of motorcycle bashing on this website. I thought most of you people were more secure in your thinking that that. I plan not to partake of it anymore.
I like all of the various motorcycles.
So, I've just got "no comment". You all will have to just guess what I'm thinking.
Regards to all.
gnm109
