Harley buying Ducati

[Old N' Grumpy]

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.

Maybe...if HD doesn't try and do something stupid to the Ducati's. If I was the CEO (I know scary thought isn't it) I would leave the Ducati managment in place to keep doing what they do best...build Ducati's for a profit, enjoy the economy of scale that two companies can offer and see how it goes for a bit before instituting changes. In a nutshell "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

 

[alpental]

More chrome!!

More chrome? MOAR CHROME?!!?11!

 

[Allan S]

More chrome? MOAR CHROME?!!?11!

Whats with the gold forks?

 

[cusso ken]

AMF did, and still does make darn good pinsetter machines! Just not good bikes. Although it is said that the shovel head engine was pretty well sorted out by 1976 or so.

My 85 1240 Shovel was still going at 14000Ks with only a bit of lifter noise the gear box was untouched and as smooth as silk

 

[Old N' Grumpy]

AMF no longer owned Harley after 1981 as Willie Davidson and a group of investors bought the company back. You were lucky Ken as AMF made a lot of junk. They are mostly the reason for a lot of the oil jokes and others.

 

[Ishrub]

Whats with the gold forks?

Previous Honda owner syndrome! Ask Hanso.

 

[WyldCFH]

Maybe...if HD doesn't try and do something stupid to the Ducati's. If I was the CEO (I know scary thought isn't it) I would leave the Ducati managment in place to keep doing what they do best...build Ducati's for a profit, enjoy the economy of scale that two companies can offer and see how it goes for a bit before instituting changes. In a nutshell "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

The only problem with this thinking is Volkswagen AG shares everything amongst it's subsidiaries, it is the reason Ducati is where it is now.
HD doesn't have subsidiaries the likes of Porsche, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Skoda innovating and sharing among other companies in the group. This actually goes for any potential buyers. There are not many companies on the planet with that type of knowledge and product base.

But, maybe the Ducati team learned enough and can run keep up under a new owner. Let's hope. I will say, if HD buys Ducati, my list of bikes to consider next has gotten shorter

 

[baadactor]

It appears that Harley will buy Ducati.

Does that mean that Harley riders will now wave to Ducati riders using all of their fingers?

Don't believe it. Look how well they did with MV Augusta.

 

[Boony]

I hope they don't stuff it up it does go ahead. Ducati make some great bikes.

 

[TriumPhil]

Hacati Duharley?

Hadudu Mocati?