Rumor has it honda is buying harley ...........i wonder what all those harley guys think of that........could a VTEC Harley be next??????
an artical on www.forbes.com claims a merger is unlikley. federal trade commission wouldent like one coporation to control 65% of market also an American icon owned by a japanese corp just wouldent be right, rumors did drive there falling stock up for a short time.
Interesting thread... still a bit pricey for me as a stock, but under 56/57 it could be appealing. When is the new contract negotiations with labor set to start?
didnt read any thing about when labor neg is going to start. according to forbs harley stock has dropped mainly do to more than expected defaut loan payments from bikes that were sold over the last 2 yrs wich has left the company short of cash. would be intresting if honda did merg how far their stock goes up. its not unreasonable to think honda could take control it happend to chrysler not so long ago they may not be the icon harley is. if i remember right it was daimlers stock that skyrocketed that time
If it happened, and as I said before - I doubt it will, then what might Honda do with their access to Harley / Buell Intellectual Property? (is Buell all Harley, or just minority Harley still privately held?) I'd expect more belt driven bikes (Buell idler wheel) I'd expect different exhaust to include Buell's style I'd expect flat track resurgence as the AMA would (hopefully) muck with the format so it would attract bikes that were currently being manufactured ;-) Remember the Honda Ascot V-twin?
I can't offer much to this thread other than to say that to the best of my knowledge, Harley went from 49/51 in Buell to full ownership circa '02 or '03. I may be wrong about when but I'm 99.9% sure that Harley does fully control Buell as of this time.
That sure would piss off all the flag waving "patriots" that swear by them. Jap crap rice burners.....I only buy American vehicles........what a load of crap. Buying a Harley does not make one more American or patriotic. I really don't see this happening. I think it's a lot different than the Daimler/Chrysler merger too.
