Another Fortnine... but this one...

[Alfetta]

So another Fortnine video, just for your entertainment.  However this one strikes a nerve.
Alta was a competitive bike (at some levels) but it's just one more brand to get dissolved by the bar and shield..

I don't know what kind of conversations occur at HD-HQ but it would be interesting to hear..

"Boys, there is a promising E-bike out there in the dirt world, this is not our market, but lets "buy" them, and watch it die"
" It might be as fun as the Buell days ! "

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ApPIEnAjns

[twowheeladdict]

Could it be that Harley really wanted Alta to help push EVs forward, but was going through their turmoil with the CEO getting booted and replaced during that time?

Could it be that Alta were greedy for the buyout and didn't read the contract carefully before entering into an agreement?

It is easy to place blame on the big guy when you don't know all the facts.  Human nature. 

[tazio]

No comment. The bar-n-shield brigade a tad too sensitive around here...
(Yes, I've owned them, both new and used)

[Motormike]

No comment. The bar-n-shield brigade a tad too sensitive around here...
(Yes, I've owned them, both new and used)

While I like Harleys, anyone that want to skewer Harley management decisions over the last 10 years or so will get no objections from this enthusiast.

[twowheeladdict]

While I like Harleys, anyone that want to skewer Harley management decisions over the last 10 years or so will get no objections from this enthusiast.

Really?  It was the Rushmore Road Glide that finally lured me into owning a Harley.  I couldn't believe what people put up with before then.  I truly thought that they must have never ridden a Japanese motorcycle to know what they are missing.

[LowRyter]

Wow, some story.  I've never heard of Alta. 

I'd like to see an electric bike in Supercross after seeing this. 

The rest of the story sounds like a replay of 100 times. 

And finally, this forum has always had a tradition to make fun of Harleys and Harley riders.  Almost as often as we criticize Moto Guzzi. 

[wavedog]

A dealer loaned my brother an Alta (and a bunch of batteries and a generator) a few years ago to take to some big 200 mile desert ride in eastern Washington. He liked it a lot but as usual with electrics the range and riding time was an issue. He did like riding it.

[moto-uno]

  How are HD share prices doing in comparison to the 80's and 90's ?  Peter

[Trialsman]

I was riding in Georgia and test rode an Alta for about an hour.  When I returned it I had only two concerns.  #1. How can I get the money to the dealer.  #2. How can I fit it on an already overcrowded trail because it was going back to Pennsylvania with me.  Since then I sold it and bought two more.  The bike I was riding in GA, a KTM Freeride, has not been started in over almost four years now.  I can squeeze out a little over 40mi of singletrack but I would like a little more range.  I love this bike.  What HD did was detrimental to all of us who enjoy motorcycles.  I can only imagine what the technology would be like had they been allowed to continue operations.  The Alta is still premier in the electric motorcycle world, even after being  out of business for all this time.

[SSGG Geezer]

  How are HD share prices doing in comparison to the 80's and 90's ?  Peter

Ryan also did a piece on how Harley is killing itself due to its failure to maintain its market share while pumping up the stock price via stock buybacks by the company.  He broke it down pretty well and Fort9 does a lot of research into their material. Stock price is important to shareholders, but hey, Enron's stock was really high priced wasn't it? The real question is sustainability of the brand.

[Alfetta]

Iv'e got nothing aginst HD bikes..
But there is a long standing trend of HD acquisitions that just end up dead.
the reasons may be valid or devious, and i'm sure only a few will ever know the truth..

But the trend is still there:
Aermacchi - Dead
Cagiva - Dead
Buell - Dead
ABIC - Live-wire partner (not sure but MIA at least)
Alta - Dead

Oddly MV Agusta is still surviving, but i'm not sure if HD still has a controlling stake ???

[LowRyter]

So long as we're in the subject of Harley bashing, I can add more fuel to the fire.  Here's a long term review of the new Pan-Am.  This bike really has some great features.  If you want to skip the kissy part, go to the last 5 minutes.   

https://youtu.be/_FVlioz70ew

[LowRyter]

Iv'e got nothing aginst HD bikes..
But there is a long standing trend of HD acquisitions that just end up dead.
the reasons may be valid or devious, and i'm sure only a few will ever know the truth..

But the trend is still there:
Aermacchi - Dead
Cagiva - Dead
Buell - Dead
ABIC - Live-wire partner (not sure but MIA at least)
Alta - Dead

Oddly MV Agusta is still surviving, but i'm not sure if HD still has a controlling stake ???

After spending $$ millions to purchase MV, I think they sold it back for $1.   Some Russians own MV now.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Iv'e got nothing aginst HD bikes..
But there is a long standing trend of HD acquisitions that just end up dead.
the reasons may be valid or devious, and i'm sure only a few will ever know the truth..

But the trend is still there:
Aermacchi - Dead
Cagiva - Dead
Buell - Dead
ABIC - Live-wire partner (not sure but MIA at least)
Alta - Dead

Oddly MV Agusta is still surviving, but i'm not sure if HD still has a controlling stake ???

IIRC, Aermacchi was bought by Cagiva, so wasn't really dead, several models continued in production. Cagiva was never owned by Harley, but the brand name went dormant because the focus of the company was on MV.

[twowheeladdict]

So long as we're in the subject of Harley bashing, I can add more fuel to the fire.  Here's a long term review of the new Pan-Am.  This bike really has some great features.  If you want to skip the kissy part, go to the last 5 minutes.   

https://youtu.be/_FVlioz70ew

Why I wouldn't consider a used 1st year bike from any manufacturer. 

[Alfetta]

So long as we're in the subject of Harley bashing, I can add more fuel to the fire.  Here's a long term review of the new Pan-Am.  This bike really has some great features.  If you want to skip the kissy part, go to the last 5 minutes.   

https://youtu.be/_FVlioz70ew

Just to be clear... I'm not HD bashing, I think that they do quite well at what they know.  It's just not acquisitions, or adventure bikes (apparently)..

20K for a bike, is Signiant, and at that price, I would have some expectations. (like it wont leave me in a lurch). But this not uncommon today from many manufactures. As the complexity of vehicles continue to increase at an exponential rate, this will only get worse.
I know several peeps that spend stupid dollars on trucks, and then have issues that would cause me to got postal, but yet those trucks are still being sold !?!

This (in a nut shell) is the primary reason that i have my V7.  Not a first year bike, not a complicated bike, (would even be better w/o trac-anti and FI).
And when I car shop, once i know what im after, i will lean toward the base models and leave the "loaded" units for others...  It can't bust if it aint there !

The real question is,  why (as the buying public) do we not stop buying this crap, and force manufactures to re-think the "KISS" plan ????
Is it our arrogance?  do we need to be one up on the "other" guy?  do we really believe that the 20K bike is 100% better than the 10K bike ??

[Ncdan]

  •••••MODERATOR MESSAGE****
No Responses necessary.

This may be a good time to address a point.
It’s always ok to have opposed views on motorcycles or any subject here and to state them on the open forum. I’m pretty sure no moderator or the Admin will ever criticize or reject a members opinions or take on any subject.
Let’s just remember where the foul comes in is when these disagreements become rude or disrespectful responses to our fellow members and I hope we can all agree that that’s unacceptable here or around a campfire where a free for all can break out😂

Thanks
Dan

[twowheeladdict]

Just to be clear... I'm not HD bashing, I think that they do quite well at what they know.  It's just not acquisitions, or adventure bikes (apparently)..

20K for a bike, is Signiant, and at that price, I would have some expectations. (like it wont leave me in a lurch). But this not uncommon today from many manufactures. As the complexity of vehicles continue to increase at an exponential rate, this will only get worse.
I know several peeps that spend stupid dollars on trucks, and then have issues that would cause me to got postal, but yet those trucks are still being sold !?!

This (in a nut shell) is the primary reason that i have my V7.  Not a first year bike, not a complicated bike, (would even be better w/o trac-anti and FI).
And when I car shop, once i know what im after, i will lean toward the base models and leave the "loaded" units for others...  It can't bust if it aint there !

The real question is,  why (as the buying public) do we not stop buying this crap, and force manufactures to re-think the "KISS" plan ????
Is it our arrogance?  do we need to be one up on the "other" guy?  do we really believe that the 20K bike is 100% better than the 10K bike ??

When my wife and I were looking at cars a year ago I took her to the chevy dealer and walked up to the lowest cost car Chevy sells.  Crank windows, manual transmission, manual door locks, etc.  We got in and I said, "This is all that we need to get from point A to point B"  "Anything else is want, not need"  She got the message.  Since 1993 I have progressively worked her into smaller more fuel efficient vehicles for commuting and errand duties. 

[tazio]

No comment. The bar-n-shield brigade a tad too sensitive around here...
(Yes, I've owned them, both new and used)

The above post by me was NOT cool and was posted with my panties somewhat in a wad.
 My apologies fellows.

[Ncdan]

The above post by me was NOT cool and was posted with my panties somewhat in a wad.
 My apologies fellows.

No problem Taz as we all have those days.
Thanks for posting, Sir👍