Harley Davidson
The Next Harley?
01/10/08 12:05 Filed in: USA | BikerIssues
I ran across this today. This is not a joke. This guy actually built this thing and flew it! 
Come on now, shouldn't Harley had invented this? With some loud jets, black paint, leather jacket and boots made for cruising around town.
Instead of a bar-hopping ride, it would be a cloud-busting ride. Do you really think that helmet will protect you in the case of a crash? Or is that in case of a flock of ducks or seagulls? Hey at least ducks aren't on their cell phones, drinking coffee, putting on make-up or eating a hamburger while they are flying! Seems a lot safer in the sky than on the road! All I know is this: After hitting all those bugs, this guy needs a Air Shammy "jetpack" dryer!!!
Come on now, shouldn't Harley had invented this? With some loud jets, black paint, leather jacket and boots made for cruising around town.
Instead of a bar-hopping ride, it would be a cloud-busting ride. Do you really think that helmet will protect you in the case of a crash? Or is that in case of a flock of ducks or seagulls? Hey at least ducks aren't on their cell phones, drinking coffee, putting on make-up or eating a hamburger while they are flying! Seems a lot safer in the sky than on the road! All I know is this: After hitting all those bugs, this guy needs a Air Shammy "jetpack" dryer!!!
Riding to Sturgis with Your Buds
20/09/08 16:44 Filed in: USA | What I Think
Some friends of mine recently rode up to Sturgis. Ron and his awesome wife Darlene are two of my favorite people. The kind of brother and sister you feel comfortable with. In their company, you just feel like you are home. Here is a picture Ron sent me this past week from his travels.
This picture sums up so much about bikers. Someone is always watching your front and guarding your back. Bikers are a unique species of human that only God could have designed. On the outside, we may appear rough with our tattoos, long hair or shaved heads, leather, bandanas, colors and loud bikes. But I have seen the hardest of the hard-core biker cry at a benefit for terminally ill children. I have seen thousands of dollars donated in time and money by bikers. I have seen a biker jump in his truck and drive a few hours to pick up a buddy who was broken down on the side of the road. I have seen bikers slow down and check on me when I am pulled over on the side of the freeway. Are bikers the ultimate rebel? Maybe. But I do know this - Bikers are the first to stand up for America; they are the first to open their wallets to a need; they are the first to help someone out; and they are the first to defend those who cannot protect themselves. Thanks Ron for the great picture and for reminding me what is great about America.
This picture sums up so much about bikers. Someone is always watching your front and guarding your back. Bikers are a unique species of human that only God could have designed. On the outside, we may appear rough with our tattoos, long hair or shaved heads, leather, bandanas, colors and loud bikes. But I have seen the hardest of the hard-core biker cry at a benefit for terminally ill children. I have seen thousands of dollars donated in time and money by bikers. I have seen a biker jump in his truck and drive a few hours to pick up a buddy who was broken down on the side of the road. I have seen bikers slow down and check on me when I am pulled over on the side of the freeway. Are bikers the ultimate rebel? Maybe. But I do know this - Bikers are the first to stand up for America; they are the first to open their wallets to a need; they are the first to help someone out; and they are the first to defend those who cannot protect themselves. Thanks Ron for the great picture and for reminding me what is great about America.
What I Would Do If I Owned Harley-Davidson
28/08/08 20:37 Filed in: What I Think
I was thinking today what I would do if I owned Harley-Davidson. Well first I would get a new bike to ride. (Hey, you would too!) But then I would start to strategize the best way to grow my company and maximize profits. I mean, really, I am a capitalist at heart so growth and profit would be a goal.
First, I would have bought Indian the last time it went into bankruptcy. That way, it would not rear its ugly head again in the future. Heck, I would have bought it if I was Honda too.
The Indian purchase would be interesting. I could introduce small, entry-level bikes to compete against the Honda's and Yamaha's while still protecting my HD branded products. HD tries to do this with their Sportster line, and while I like the new Sportsters, it seems most Sportster owners end up trading up within a few years. You can always find used Sportsters for sale. An entry level bike at $9,000 seems stiff anyways. And I would guess that the profit margin on a Sportster is less than it is on a Dyna, Heritage or Fat Boy model. The Indian purchase would have its possibilities while also eliminating a historic rival.
Secondly, I would work with my dealers on maximizing their profits by STOCKING product. There is nothing more irritating than to need or want a new part for my hog and go to my local dealer only to find out he doesn't stock it. I am talking high profit, straight-out-of-the-catalog, chrome accessories. I want it now and don't want to wait a week till he orders it and gets it in. I would venture to say that Harley dealers are making 50% minimum on parts. With that profit margin, they can afford to stock parts.
Lastly, many dealers do a poor job of understanding aftermarket sales. It seems that they want you to buy the bike and get you out the door as fast as possible. When I bought my hog, they did not introduce me to the service manager or parts manager. Don't they realize that there is A LOT of profit AFTER the sale of the motorcycle? Some dealers need training on understanding aftermarket sales and service. By the way, I always bought my parts and had my bike serviced at a different dealer than the one I bought it from. Any Harley owner knows that the HD logo outside a dealer means "Hundred Dollars".
Lastly, I would give an Air Shammy motorcycle dryer away with every bike purchase.
There, now you got my two cents on improving Harley Davidson.
First, I would have bought Indian the last time it went into bankruptcy. That way, it would not rear its ugly head again in the future. Heck, I would have bought it if I was Honda too.
The Indian purchase would be interesting. I could introduce small, entry-level bikes to compete against the Honda's and Yamaha's while still protecting my HD branded products. HD tries to do this with their Sportster line, and while I like the new Sportsters, it seems most Sportster owners end up trading up within a few years. You can always find used Sportsters for sale. An entry level bike at $9,000 seems stiff anyways. And I would guess that the profit margin on a Sportster is less than it is on a Dyna, Heritage or Fat Boy model. The Indian purchase would have its possibilities while also eliminating a historic rival.
Secondly, I would work with my dealers on maximizing their profits by STOCKING product. There is nothing more irritating than to need or want a new part for my hog and go to my local dealer only to find out he doesn't stock it. I am talking high profit, straight-out-of-the-catalog, chrome accessories. I want it now and don't want to wait a week till he orders it and gets it in. I would venture to say that Harley dealers are making 50% minimum on parts. With that profit margin, they can afford to stock parts.
Lastly, many dealers do a poor job of understanding aftermarket sales. It seems that they want you to buy the bike and get you out the door as fast as possible. When I bought my hog, they did not introduce me to the service manager or parts manager. Don't they realize that there is A LOT of profit AFTER the sale of the motorcycle? Some dealers need training on understanding aftermarket sales and service. By the way, I always bought my parts and had my bike serviced at a different dealer than the one I bought it from. Any Harley owner knows that the HD logo outside a dealer means "Hundred Dollars".
Lastly, I would give an Air Shammy motorcycle dryer away with every bike purchase.
There, now you got my two cents on improving Harley Davidson.
This Blog
23/08/08 17:21 Filed in: My Ramblings
I always seem to have something to say, so I thought I would include a blog inside the Air Shammy website. Some of you who have purchased an Air Shammy dryer from us for your motorcycle know that we stand behind our product and enjoy talking with you on the phone or in email. We thank you for your business and the business referrals from your friends and family. If you don't know it by now, that blue hog in the ads is mine. I feel like that guy in the Hair Club for Men commercial - "I'm not just the owner, I am a client too"! Yeah, I detail my bike with my own product because it works. Now if I could only get it to grow hair!