Ducati ( The Company ) For Sale

[WALLSXB]

Just read on Autoblog that Ducati is up for sale and that several German auto companies are interested and supposedly Harley Davidsons name has come up as a possible buyer! I would link it if i knew how from my Ipad. [confused]

 

[xtreme]

Here are two links, very interesting. Its a shame to see these companies go down the tubes. I would be very amazed if Harley Davidson buys. Why would they have cut ties with Buell and then buy into another sport bike company that has nothing in common with HD.

http://www.gpone.com/index.php/en/201202136057/Ducati-for-sale-1-billion-Euro.html

http://www.barhopperchallenge.com/

 

[Burton]

Wow, that would be a strange twist. What a bummer that they are up for sale.

 

[freak2180]

Why would they have cut ties with Buell and then buy into another sport bike company that has nothing in common with HD.

HD was/is threatened Buell and Erik . I know they were funded & supplied by HD but they were still a threat on home soil. Ducati is not made in the US so they are not another American company threating the Great HD's turff.

 

[netty2424]

.  Why would they have cut ties with Buell and then buy into another sport bike company that has nothing in common with HD.

Very unlikely to happen, but if they did it would be to buy up market share and gain access to some newer technology.......relative to HD's stagnant technological advances in the last 20 years.

 

[raz65man]

This is Harley Davidson we are talking about, guys. Even with the best of intentions they would **** up a wet dream. When Erik is mass producing world class sportbikes in 5 years it may finally sink in that they screwed the pooch with Buell! But I doubt it[smirk]
Raz

 

[d_adams]

but if they did it would be to buy up market share and gain access to some newer technology.......relative to HD's stagnant technological advances in the last 20 years.

The stupid bastards already HAD that and squandered it. TWICE. Once with MV Agusta and again with Buell and both times at a MASSIVE loss.

 

[bbletterin]

I heard mihindra & vlokswagon were the prospective buyers.

 

[bbletterin]

Sorry it's early, Volkswagon?-close enough.

 

[Kid1620]

If Harley takes over duc then they can say good bye to ever winning a race again. And duc owners can say good bye to customer satisfaction.

 

[Lesley]

Why would they have cut ties with Buell?

They didn't-They shut down production of the BMC line. Erik Buell stayed on at HD. That is why they asked him to announce the closure. He had NO TIES to the company in 2009 other than his name being on the bikes. HD has wholly owned BMC since 2003. I thought everyone knew that. You see thats what happens when an engineer thinks he is a businessman. Sad story yes,but very true. I'm sure if you could have a personal conversation with him he'd tell you the same. In fact his lawyers begged him to NOT enter into a contract with HD way back when he started this venture. He signed it anyway. End of story.

When Erik is mass producing world class sportbikes in 5 years it may finally sink in that they screwed the pooch

? Mass producing? Yeah that ain't ever gonna happen. Nothing will sink into HD because they are a business company. Whatever EB does it will NEVER threaten HD's credibilty or sales. I'm sure it is safe to say that HD could NOT care less what EB does. If they go bankrupt in a few years it wont be because of the beloved BUELL motorcycles. It will be because the need for overpriced bikes will fade in oblivion.

 

[Alfatango1]

HD is making money despite itself even in this economy. They sell a "life style" as opposed to just a "motorcycle". As much as some dealers would like to have another avenue for revenue the majority of their customers don't like or get sport bikes. Even at the most progressive HD dealerships I've been to where the personnel where up to date and Buell friendly, the customers who came out on weekly bbq's and rides never took to Buell's. Only my friends who rode with me would talk to me.

Having said that I highly doubt they would try another sport bike after the MV and Buell disaster, plus they don't have the funding like a major car manufacturer. A billion Euro is a lot of scratch. They recently borrowed 500 million from Warren Buffet for Eagles Mark Bank to provide financing at a high interest rate too.

 

[wolfo68]

Since his name came up I feel the need to say Warren Buffet is a badass. Hell of a nice guy.

 

[Alfatango1]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-...mull-sale-or-hong-kong-ipo-as-soon-as-3q.html

 

[Alfatango1]

China and Japan are buying most of the USA's big realastate. It's ww2 with out the blood sheld.

China owns the biggest chunk of our debt but the Netherlands owns most of our real estate.

 

[J_Undisputed]

Maybe that's the Harley plan to get rid of sport bikes. Buy a company, destroy it from the inside.. leave it for dead.. retain the patents move on to the next one.

 

[Alfatango1]

Maybe that's the Harley plan to get rid of sport bikes. Buy a company, destroy it from the inside.. leave it for dead.. retain the patents move on to the next one.

[up]Ah ha ha.. Could be the master plan!

 

[raz65man]

Maybe that's the Harley plan to get rid of sport bikes. Buy a company, destroy it from the inside.. leave it for dead.. retain the patents move on to the next one.

They are not that f'''in smart.
Raz

 

[thumpin1203]

Harley & hoyusung, maybe.. HD & Ducati, never.. the capitol isn't there. The Ducatisti would jump ship like lemmings before being owned by Hardley D... it would be just another failure. Harley would do better to purchase Lazy-boy or a furniture chain..