I think Harley Davidson makes a great motorcycle - I own two of them and I love them.  I love everything about them - their bulk, their gutteral rumble and their classic design.

But things are tough at Harley Davidson what with the economic recession and their core market baby boomers reluctant to plop down thousands for a bike.  To add to their woes Harley kept producing bikes in the face of slowing sales leading to a product glut.  Not only is there a glut of new Harleys out there but as times are tough for current owners there is also a glut of Harleys on the classifieds pages.  To compound their problems Harley engeged in questionable lending to help support lagging sales in 2009 and that is coming home to haunt them as these soft loans have cost Harley dearly.  Harley stock got as low as about $10 in 2009 but has rebounded to about $23 recently.

On the bright side Harley Davidson is an icon and has survived over 107 years coming through the great depression and foreign motorcycle invasion of the 1970's.  What saved them then and what will save Harley now is the loyalty of their fans.  Harley has done a great job marketing to their cadre of loyal fans.  To survive they will have to keep up thier innovative marketing programs including HOG (Harley Ownership Group) and introducing models like the V-Rod that appeals to younger riders.

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