Harley shuts plant as woes worsen for Trump's model manufacturer

[iscooterliberally]

Source: Chicago Tribune

A deepening slump in U.S. motorcycle demand is spurring more job cuts and a plant closure at Harley-Davidson Inc., a company President Donald Trump has cast as a model American manufacturer.

The Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker will close its factory in Kansas City, Missouri, and consolidate production in York, Pennsylvania, according to a statement Tuesday. The restructuring will eliminate about 260 U.S. jobs, Chief Executive Officer Matt Levatich said on a conference call. Trump praised the company last year as a "great example" of a business creating jobs and building factories in the country.

In closing the Kansas City plant, Harley will eliminate about 800 jobs; it will add 450 in York.

“They didn’t even give us a call ahead of time,” Joe Capra, directing business agent for Local 778 of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, told The Kansas City Star. “It is real devastation for these people who work here and work hard in the Kansas City area.”

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-harley-davidson-shuts-down-plant-20180130-story.html

[exboyfil]

1. I wonder if folks realize that the transfer payments

that, along with defense, makes up the majority of the federal budget is the only area of significance in which the Republicans intend to address the budget deficit. Harley today: Winnebago, the housing market, retirement communities, and leisure travel are next. Also foregoing of medical and long term care resulting in the unemployment of nursing assistants, nurses, lab technicians, and even doctors.

[iscooterliberally]

6. I bought a Harley 11 years ago.

It doesn't run anymore due to neglect on my part. I can't afford to get it fixed, because it's very low priority and I really don't have the money. I have to keep two cars on the road instead. Leisure travel? I'm lucky that I live a few miles from the beach, so it's 'stay-cations' for the wife and I. I also can't help to see that Harley flooded the market with motorcycles over the last 10 years, so I'm not sure if they're the canary in the coal mine or not. I would have to give my Harley away if I wanted to sell it. It's one of those products that is very impractical unless gasoline creeps up to $4 a gallon again. I hope Mueller can extinguish this dumpster fire within the next year or so. I hate to see people losing their jobs.

[muntrv]

2. But...but...TAX CUTS! They're foolproof! Trump Teevee sez so!

[erronis]

3. TRUMP - YOU'RE FIRED! And take your shithole family with you!

Any CEO of a real company would have been let go by the BOD after tarnishing the company's image.

And putting the whole damn operation in the cross-hairs of multiple federal investications.

Way to go, Team Dump!

[Initech]

4. But we got $1,000 bonuses! A thousand fucking dollars!!!!

That $1,000 is peanuts compared to what they will make in profits once they lay you off. And that $1,000 is just another reminder of how badly you're getting fucked by the system.

[Sailor65x1]

5. Actually, it makes sense for Harley to do this

From a Production standpoint at least.

York is the site that pumps out the Softail and all touring models. KC was the site building Sportsters, VRods, and Dynas.

With the Dyna frame being dropped last year, the Dyna models being ported to a Softail frame, and dropping the VRod, it makes more sense to move Sportsters into York than to spread the Softail to KC.

There was speculation that HD might add CVO to KC, but that didn't seem likely.

[iscooterliberally]

7. Over the last 10 years since I bought my Sportster I wondered when it would slow down.

Every time I went by the dealership, there were more and more models and new dealerships popping up since I bought mine. I was wondering where they were going to find more customers. Most of the people that I saw riding were older than me and I was 44 when I bought it. I hate to see people lose their jobs though.

[7962]

8. I'd never own a bike. People on the road are just too damn crazy these days.

Several of my friends do, but I never got the attraction anyway

[iscooterliberally]

9. When I bought mine, I thought gas was going to hit $5 a gallon.

I live in South Florida and it was almost like a ghost town on the free ways when gas got to almost $4 a gallon. People were taking the trains and buses and public transportation is horrible down here. It was taking me 2-3 hours each way. I had some money and decided to go for it. Riding motorcycles is a lot of fun until someone hits you. You're right about people on the road being too damn crazy though. As much fun as it is to ride, it's better for Sundays when the weather is nice and there aren't that many people out and about. I don't ride mine any more as it's currently in a state of disrepair. If you don't get the attraction, you're probably better off. If gas gets really expensive again, I'll probably just get an electric bicycle instead.

[yellowcanine]

10. Overpriced chrome machines. Honda makes a better motorcycle.

Okay now I have probably done it. (Ducks)

[iscooterliberally]

12. I had a Honda Nighthawk 750 back in the 80s. It was a nice bike.

I had a Suzuki too. I had always wanted a Harley though, so I got one. I got mine as a base model so it wasn't that expensive. A friend of mine had a Honda and I think it was an ACE. He always had problems with his though. I was glad I bought the Harley. They got much better in the last 20 years or so. I occasionally rode with a local club and some of the guys had Harleys, but some had Hondas and other makes too. One of the leaders rode a Goldwing. Honda does make nice motorcycles too. No need to duck!

[yellowcanine]

16. Biggest problem I have is in general Harley is not as smooth/comfortable a ride.

I have also noticed that used Harleys generally are often lower mileage for the year than used Hondas or BMWs. That tells me they aren't as comfortable on long rides.

[iscooterliberally]

17. I bought a 2007 XL883L.

I'm not sure if it was the first year they came out with new softer motor mounts and fuel injection, but my bike was very smooth for a Harley. The stock seat that it came with was comfortable enough. I could only go about 100 miles with the peanut tank though. The larger softails are comfortable. I did a few test rides on those, but they get very pricey. I heard that the Street Glide was probably the most comfortable. All the police bikes that I see in my area are Road Kings and they look comfortable. The main problem for Harley is their V-45 engine. They have to use counter-weights because the design isn't balance so they shake around a lot.

[elmac]

19. I wholeheartedly agree

I've owned a Harley, several Yamaha, one Kawasaki and one Honda in my lifetime. The Honda, an FT-500 Ascot, was by far the best of the pack. I also rode a Honda CB-400Fthat belonged to my brother, was a beauty.

[UpInArms]

11. Sorry ... this is a duplicate thread

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10141974899

[iscooterliberally]

14. I searched for this story before posting. The other thread was from a different source.

Anyway, sorry for the dupe!

[UpInArms]

20. No worries

Happens to me, too ... 😊

[jmowreader]

13. We can't pin this one on Trump, though we can surely try

They've run into a big problem: every lawyer who wants a Harley already has it, and the kids getting into motorcycling today would rather have sportbikes - which Harley does not make.

[iscooterliberally]

15. I agree with you on this, but we should still pin it on him anyway.

Harley did have Buell for a while, but they went under years ago. It was kind of weird seeing a belt drive on a sport bike.

[gibraltar72]

18. Harley supported policies that killed it

Let's face it fewer and fewer working class people can afford a decent car and a new Harley too. Harley threw in with Republican values that drive wages down. I rode for many years and had about every kind of bike in 50 plus years. Including Harley and Indian. over the last 10 years in particular. It has become a very expensive toy. A toy that cost as much as moms grocery getter. Harley had help from government in artificial trade barriers and subsidies. Even manufactured shortages to make people really want one. That can only work for a while.