Harley buying Ducati

Boony said:
It appears that Harley will buy Ducati.

Does that mean that Harley riders will now wave to Ducati riders using all of their fingers?
Click to expand...
Before we get too crazy with this rumor, let's not forget that H-D is a publicly traded company, answerable to the shareholders. As we all know, H-D's history with brands outside of its comfort zone has been uninspiring, to say the least - witness its mishandling of Buell and the MV Agusta debacle (purchased the company in 2008 - dumped it in 2009). Markets and shareholders don't like forays into markets where a company has failed before - and H-D has failed twice in this market.

I'm predicting that no Ducati will ever roll out of a Harley-Davidson manufacturing facility, nor vice-versa.
 
Apparently HD has gone to Goldman Sachs to put together $1.67 billion for the offer, and since I've seen $1 billion being the estimated value of Ducati, it seems like a pretty legitimate offer from HD. I initially thought it would be a marriage made in hell and ultimate it would end poorly, but after thinking about it a bit its sounds more and more like a good idea. I know HD failed with Buell and Agusta, but there' something that Ducati has that neither of those names had....millions of cult fans, that are just as into the image of Ducati, as HD fans are into the image of HD. So I've changed my mind, now I'm seeing the purchase as more of one of those marriages where the couples that manage to stay together for a REALLY long time, raise reasonably healthy and successful kids, and die within a week of each other, and all the while screaming a hating each other.
 
One thing you can expect for sure:

The "exclusive" Ducati's, the rare ones, that are already expensive will get more expensive. There will be greater stratification between the pleebian bikes (Panigale 1299) and the collectors level (Panigale 1299 R superlaggera).

HD have a knack for creating "collectors" or "special" editions of standard bikes for extreme price increases, Ducati already does it, but HD will almost certainly say "Well its already $40,000, why cant we make it $45,000, people will pay it". Sadly, they're right, people will pay it, and it will create headroom for other manufacturers to increase their prices.
 

People will "pay it" er....they will finance it with HOG financing....miss 3 three payments after six months and the bike will go back to HD who will sell it again. They make significant money on multiple reselling of single bikes, and big markups on trade ins. Except non HD trade ins are practically given away!
 
How did the Ford / Jaguar deal do? I think that there is a good deal to be made here. HD worked with Porsche. Very good experiment. I'm still waiting for a chance to ride a V Rod. Hailed by many. Trade rides with Diavel for a day ride... Yeah! It's all good.

Make us reliable bikes... and build them in Texas with Italian style.

We have done it with Honda and build the Valkyrie.
 
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