Comments on: The CMG Chat: Scott Winhold, Harley-Davidson Canada’s new boss

By: Relic

Relic — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 22:21:04 +0000

HDs demographic is affluent middle age riders. The years have ticked over. It is now the guys who rode air cooled 2 strokes in the 70s. They want a big bike with some off-road capability.
Compare hd’s prototype to the latest honda Africa twin.

By: ddmcp

ddmcp — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 18:39:51 +0000

I used to visit my local HD dealer (the former Canadian importer) from time to time and they were generous in allowing lengthy test rides. Of course, the bikes I rode were Buells, which had to be kept in a separate building, presumably because of the embarrassment. They were great bikes. So at the very moment they could have capitalized on a marketers dream, winning a road race championship, they said “fuggit “ and built another FLH, with another long string of letters to differentiate it, ever so slightly, from some other model.

I lost all respect for Harley, then.

They do have nice paint, though.

By: Jojo Chintoh

Jojo Chintoh — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 09:14:44 +0000

In reply to Pete.

That time, eh? Iron level low?

By: TK4

TK4 — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 15:07:24 +0000

Ex-managing director of H-D Canada, Anoop Prakash, has jumped ship and is now president of the ambulance group at REV Group Inc. I’ll leave it to others to make the appropriate comments….

By: S10

S10 — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 09:28:55 +0000

In reply to Eric.

I went to a demo ride too. It was a busy day, the parking lot was loaded with prospective customers. And me. I Had the cheapest bike there by a factor of ten (an old Japanese sport tourer). I had the most expensive jacket/helmet combo there by a factor of ten (safety yellow ballistic nylon jacket and Arai full face).

I must not have fit “the image”, as out tf the eight runs they had that day, I only missed one. The photographer was there all day. Guess which run had its pictures all over promotional materials?

The sport tourer is gone, replaced by an ADV bike. Sorry for wasting your time, HD.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 03:01:13 +0000

Wow, that was a big load of marketing speak! Did you happen to ask about HD’s electric R&D philosophy? Partner with or invest in innovative emerging companies like Mission and Alta, drain them of their intellectual property and leave them dying at the side of the curb. I guess that when StaCyc goes down, HD will be 3 for 3 on their kill ratio.

I like the “turning the Titanic” image. HD has spend a lifetime building their love it or hate it rah rah American bad boy image. Do they seriously expect people to think they can change? Especially when they have to rape and pillage to do it!

By: Mark Richardson

Mark Richardson — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 20:39:29 +0000

In reply to Pete.

Zac does make a good point in reply. Like it or not, the traditional cliched image of a Harley rider is of the guy in the photo on the wall next to Scott Winhold. He doesn’t look anything like me, though, and I’ve owned and ridden my Low Rider for 11 years now, hanging out with riders of all makes. I even have the Harley tattoo.

By: RyYYZ

RyYYZ — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:11:02 +0000

“CMG: So in 10 years we’ll see affordable electric motorcycles?”

We probably will. I doubt if H-D will be selling them. “Affordable” and “competitive pricing” don’t really seem to be in the H-D lexicon, after 20 years of booming sales.

I would consider an H-D bike. I wouldn’t pay a nickle extra just for the fact that it’s a Harley, though. Make a competitive product in a segment that I’m interested in, and I would consider it.