HD buys MV

Gizmo

Gizmo

Forum Geek
Full press release here but it looks like Harley Davidson have bought MV and Cagiva. A good move which should help MV get out of its financial problems, provide them with better purchasing ability and US distribution. Jokes aside the combination could be an interesting one as MV do produce some beautifully styled bikes and with a bit of investment the F4 replacement will be worth looking at.
 
Brings to mind the hilarious 'improvements' HD made to the Aermacchi 350 when they bought them in the '70s. Anyone remember that?? Buried the name without trace I seem to remember. Wonder if we've got to look forward to the F4 Sportster, complete with manly 1200 HD engine of course....sorry to all for my cynicism leaching through, but......:( :( :(
 
An alliance for Ducati with HD spells disaster in my mind! I know both brands have soul but history shows that straegic alliances and mergers only fail because of cultural diversity. What cultural synergies do H-D and Ducati or Yanks and Italians have?

We'll just have to wait and see what happens to MV - I only hope they don't destroy the heart and soul of a great design - look what Americans think of car design - Jeep, Hummer, Cadillac, Lincoln - I ask you - they still believe they build the best cars in the world let alone bikes ...........we're doomed Capt Mainwaring, we're doomed......... :comp2:
 
239desmo said:
And a future merger with Ducati all the more likely now I guess.
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I'm going back to Kawasaki... I'm not wearing Ducati leather chaps ;) Yes there is similarities between the brands (Ducati and Harley), but MILES apart in terms of marketplace and customers. Joking aside, even if it did happen it would probably make each brand STRONGER. Exclusivity these days is an expensive luxury. Going back to Kawasaki, they make bikes, generators, excavators and the bullit train...A Desmo Train... now we're talkin' :D :D
 
Previous post on Amercian design is bang on actually... BUELL, it's the ugliest thing put on the planet and is aimed at the Harley market that want a sports bike but feel they are "betraying" the brand... so they kid on that a Buell makes it OK. I'm not a great American fan (cars, bikes, food, software, attitude,)... so I take it back... keep Ducati ITALIAN.... Better having a firey, bad tempered clan controlling our bike design than people that gave us Cadillacs, McDonalds and Britney Spears....;) I do have a confession though, I had a Hummer H3 last year... loved it, bright yellow too :lol2: :lol2:
 
I think it would be brilliant for the Brand that is Ducati, don't know where you would find such figure but I wouldn't mind betting that a large amount of the profit that each company makes comes from licensing the brand, selling apparel etc - Ducati have been passed from pillar to post in recent years, all investment companies, HD are a true iconic biking company and that you cannot deny, they will realise the value of the brand and continue to build on it - superb, I will watch with interest !
 
Mad Dash said:
McDonalds and Britney Spears
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Thankyou America :hail:

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Bunch of Fannies

I have just watched the news, and one of the largest American mortgage firms is reporting tough times... Fannie May. Now, called me old fashioned, but with a name like that, they DESERVE financial problems :D :D :D :D :D God bless America, fcuk yeah !!!
 
I'd say its the end of any possible HD/Ducati merger, HD were looking for a European brand to work with and they've found it, even better they get MV for high end and can use Cagiva in the mid range.

I'm a bit surprised as it looked like II would take the cash last year but instead they walked away from the table and started trying to buy more of Ducati, I'm now trying to figure out whether they did so to get a higher share price ( and more of them) and could now be kicking themselves.

With Michael Lock at Ducati US they are strong there anyway although an HD would have undoubtly helped with distribution and logisitcs. I can't see Andrea Bonomi losing too much sleep if it is the end of any merger, they'll soon find anthor suitor to start talks with!

Whether one likes it or not there isn't much between US brands like HD and where Ducati are now, both are sales and marketing led with little innovation and their goals are to increase the P and A business and branding rights. Good/bad? it don't matter if it provides investment capital to build the business and income for shareholders.......
 
I agree that both are S&M lead and that is important but I still can't see Casey on a Harley at Donington - maybe Marco though....mmmm:eek:

Let's hope that there will always be crazy guys who work from the heart and not always the wallet......wife says she recognises that trait somewere - doh!
 
"Fannie May" is the FNMA, Federal National Mortgage Association. Originally a government guaranteed mortgage scheme.

Anyone found a link to the Kustom Krome catalog(ue) for my Brutale? I suppose its pronounced Bru Tail now.
 
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