Harley-Davidson: The True American Motorcycle

According to USAtoday, the shares in the classic motorcycle company, Harley-Davidson, were much greater than expected in 2014. The company's shares had a quarterly increase of 19% from last year and a 7.5% increase in midday trading. Also, the company had planned on exporting approximately 284,000 "HOGs" overseas, which was a 9% increase from the previous year. I bet the original founders never expected their company to become this large when they were inside a 10x15 foot shack in 1903. However, in the year 2009, the company was not so lucky when it came to sales. In 2009, profit had been down 91% compared to the previous year. The year 2008 had seen a profit of 228 million dollars, while 2009 had only a profit of 19.8 million dollars. Due to this major plummet in sales, Harley-Davidson had cut approximately 1,000 jobs from the line of manufacturing America's classic motorcycles. Also, along with the plummet in profit, there was also a great decline in shipments of the motorcycles in 2009. Only 212,000 to 228,000 motorcycles were expected to be shipped out, as opposed to 303,479 motorcycles that had been shipped out in 2008. However, the company is playing another gamble in recent years. Harley-Davidson is planning on manufacturing electric motorcycles to their line-up of bikes. Harley is planning on taking a number of riders on a 30-city ride. The company will take the information received by the ride to craft their electric bike. I personally do not understand Harley-Davidson's interest in electric motorcycles, as the image of Harley is a rumbling, all metal, icon of American freedom. No matter what path Harley-Davidson decides to take, however, I will always love the Sportster and most other motorcycles by America's classic motorcycle company.

Harley's new electric motorcycle