I just had a coversation with a friend of mine who lives in Milwaukee and has friends that work at Harley. They had told him that the vrod will be getting phased out in the near future. The MOCO isn't selling enough and the profit isn't as high as expected. This should make our resale better in years to come right?
Future of the vrod
1Winks70
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I dont really know enough about the Models but what I have noticed is that HD applies their "Technique " on how they deal with the other LIne ups, there are at any given time 5 different Sportster models in a given year. Now with the introduction of the Nighster and the Iron and 48 they have systematically done the same thing to That line up that they have done to the VRSC line up. Offer "Different" styles under the same banner but when stripped down relatively the same. Now the Revo Is a bit different in that Many of Its changes at the beginning had to do with the way the bike performed, it was Completely new so when they released a New bike in 2005 it was much different than the bikes just 3 years prior. Other models dot really go through that, the Crossbones? It was a Springer front end and a motor found in other bikes, Rocker? Same thing.
The big Difference of course in the Sportie Line and the VRSC line is that HD now only has 2 models of VRSC when at one point it had several like the sporties. But a $19K bike is a lot different than a $8k bike to a Co and since the VRSC makes up little of the HD sales figures it wasnt a surprise..
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Well, they quit making Shovelheads too, but you still see them on the road. If you like your bike you will find a way to keep it running.
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1,530 Posts
Bring the Anodized back.
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44,126 Posts
Nah HD has Relied on "Going Backwards In order to Keep From Go Forwards" too many times. They cancelled the A,B,D which where the 1sts, They "Re-did" the B&D with the DX, Now move on to something else. Maybe they will just continue to release Slightly Updated DX's every year and a New Model (like the F) every few year unti something sticks again.
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All kidding aside...don't care if they make more or not. However, on the "regular" HD forums there are rumors about liquid cooled Harleys coming down the pike. And the HD dealer also did tell me that current air cooled HD meets EPA standards thru 2015. For what that is worth. My opinion is that the V-Rod engine is a good basic engine design and HD could find a way to expand its offerings using this engine is some way.
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The Revo is still Harley's research engine.It's also the engine that keeps the %'s down so they can pass epa requirements.Without the Revo,there would have to be an engine that would keep them in the loop w the epa.Right now,they have coals in the fire over in India and cannot afford a new engine.The Brazil plant is involved with the India for making sub assembly's that will keep the tariffs low.They did all the consolidation in the past couple of years to concentrate on India,not make new engines.I say as soon as Harley moves from this continent over to India for there main assembly plant,then we will see some more innovation.Until then,the Revo will be around for a few more years than you think.
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Where is all this info on India, etc? I would like to do the research. Is it in their financials? I am sure that info would have to be in the financials. As a former stock broker, you would think I would read the HD financials. Also it just happens that I am from York, PA and really did used to work there..a long time ago..AMF days. I can't believe HD would move everything offshore. But what do I know.
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Harley has had an assembly plant in Manaus Brazil since 1998 or '99 to get around the 100% or so tariff on imported vehicles. Harley is in the process of setting up an assembly plant in India for much the same reason, and to avail themselves of the huge Asian market.
http://www.outsaurus.com/2011/07/03/outsourced-harley-davidson-2/
http://www.keral.com/automobiles/Ha.../Harley-Davidson-turns-Desi-Two-Sportster-models-to-be-made-in-India-plant.html
The rumor is that Harley will develop new product, smaller displacement bike, for the Asian market and build these eventually in India.
All of them??? Hell, At one time there were 6-7 versions of each. Tourers, Sportsters and then there are Dyna's, Softails, Fatfocks and whatever else they call them but all have/had the same engine, the Evo or now the Twin Cam. Basically, other than the softail suspension, all the same model with cosmetic changes.
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Elrod, where do you come up with some of the things you say? The assembly plant in Manaus Brazil assembles bikes from parts that are manufactured in the US. Nothing is fabricated from scratch there.
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Me too bought mine April of 02!!!!!!!
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I read them.What I read was the tax imposed to Harley on a bike made in India would be 60%.If the sub assembly's are made in the Brazil plant,shipped to India for the plant to bolt the bikes together,the tariff would be 10%.I don't know if this is true,and I could care less either.Maybe you can let us know if this has changed.
Bill Davidson told me that the Revo is not going to be eliminated anytime soon back in March of this year.
I also asked WillyG about some people that own,and or did own some R&D engineering companys from days gone by.He would not elaborate much at all because he does not like the people I was asking about.
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Can you show us any articles that state the plant in India will use parts from Brazil? The article I posted, and the others I read but did not post, all claimed the plant in Brazil assembles bikes from parts made in the US. If you have other information, please show us.
Trying to understand what you're asking here Philthy....in the first article you posted, it looks like you have a source from the MoCo saying that the bikes in India will be made using parts made in the USA.
However, what the writer of the blog comments is that many of these parts are actually (supposedly well known to be) made in the manufacturing plant in Brazil.
Not sure who's right, but someone (either the Moco or the blogger) is most certainly wrong.
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Check out India code HIS 8711.50.00
Research the Obama-Biden Transition Project,from as far back as Dec 2008.
Seems now with the new CEO,the sub assembly's will be imported from the 3 U.S.plants.
Allegedly,the new Indian plant should have been finished last month.
If you ask me,Levatich hasn't given his lobbyist enough funds to buy off the people they need.
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What I am saying is that the articles I have seen claim the Brazil plant only assembles US made components. You maintain components are manufactured in Brazil. I have not seen anything to indicate the Brazil plant is anything but an assembly line for components manufactured in the US while you claim India will use components manufactured in Brazil. Show us this blog you mention.
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:them: Besides, you should all be praying since tomorrow is the Armaggedon, the anxiously expected July 20th!!!! Repent ya'll sinners!!! :rofl:
\\http://www.outsaurus.com/2011/07/03/...ey-davidson-2/
Right here....I took it from your post above.
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