Big Dog Motorcycles Takes Austerity Measures To Preserve Its Future.

bigdogmotorcycles09Last Friday evening August 14, I was informed by an unofficial source that “Big Dog Motorcycles was stopping production for the rest of the month of August 2009. That for the remainder of the year there will be temporary production furloughs. That a 20% pay reduction across the board was applied to all employees left after the layoffs“.

At my request, Paul Hansen, Marketing Director of Big Dog Motorcycles, sent me the following statement:

“Cyril. Thank you again for the opportunity to comment on the information you received regarding the recent announcement at Big Dog Motorcycles. As you know, the challenging economy continues to affect Big Dog Motorcycles and the entire U.S. motorcycling industry as retail lending practices tighten and consumer confidence and discretionary spending are still at historically low levels. Yet, we are still pleased to inform that we continue to be the leader in the high performance, high style motorcycle niche and have developed strategies to maintain this position over the long-term, which includes maximizing operational efficiencies, hunkering down to dramatically reduce costs, and accelerating our international distribution. All while keeping a keen focus on new product development.

To maximize efficiencies and reduce costs, Big Dog Motorcycles began a temporary production furlough on August 17, totaling seven weeks from today until the end of the year. The seven weeks are not taken consecutively and include an immediate four weeks combined with extended holiday leave. This is a result of the company adjusting production levels from now through the rest of 2009 and preparing for the model-year changeover. No layoffs were announced and all employees affected by the furlough are eligible for unemployment benefits. All company staff also received a temporary 20% reduction in pay.

The furlough combined with a temporary reduction in pay allows the company to carefully control costs through what we predict to be a difficult fourth quarter for the motorcycling industry. With our international efforts and signs the recession may be coming to its long-awaited end, we expect spring and summer 2010 sales to be encouraging.

Our all-new high-end bagger – the Bulldog – has recently been approved for export to Canada, joining several other models. Canadian sales have exceeded our expectations and we anticipate continuing to name new dealers in several major Canadian markets. Our assault on the international market also includes advanced negotiations with distributors in Europe and the Middle East and aggressively seeking European compliance.

While the recent announcement was difficult to make and is never easy, it was a painful, necessary step as we work through the economic downturn and position ourselves to be the leader in our niche and a major force in the industry for years to come” Paul Hansen, Big Dog Motorcycles Marketing Director.

Note from Cyril: For those not familiar with the word “furlough”. “Furloughs are mandatory time off work. Implemented by employers as a cost saving measure and an alternative to layoffs. The affected employees are usually eligible for unemployment benefits”.

48 Responses to “Big Dog Motorcycles Takes Austerity Measures To Preserve Its Future.”


  1. 1 Frito Bandido Aug 20th, 2009 at 10:55 am

    Jus lik iron jorse……………..muy mal.

    No mor cerveza pesos.

    Jasse James lives!!!!!!!

    Frito Bandito

  2. 2 ProMoto Aug 20th, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    Frito,
    None of those comments have any validly… so, why even bother posting them.

  3. 3 Dave Aug 20th, 2009 at 12:56 pm

    I was told they have a LOT of inventory. They are selling at bargain-basement prices – I was looking at some in Costa Mesa Ca at $10K off sticker. There were a lot of them, too. Not a bad deal, but now I’m worried about viability of the manufacturer. I heard they are backed by big money, but don’t know what to believe now.

    I was already worried about resale value if at some point I were to trade in a few years down the line, and now, I’m really thinking I should wait and see. Thoughts?

  4. 4 just my opinion Aug 20th, 2009 at 1:18 pm

    Dave; There is no motorcycle made that holds its value, and that is especially true at trade in ask any Harley Dealer what they will give for a Harley that is several years old. The answer is not very much. If you are thinking a motorcycle is an investment you should look elsewhere. But that being said lets be realistic about who is buying these custom and semi-custom bikes, Most people buy a bike like a Big Dog because they want a really cool toy, something that does not blend into the rest of the bikes in the parking lot. The buyers tend to be folks wanting looks as well as a bike that performs better than the average stock bike. And most people buying bikes like these tend to hold onto them for many years. I always say life is short if you can afford it and want it ,buy it. I don’t own a big dog but I know people that do and they are happy with there bikes. If you can buy one at a discount now may be the time to jump on that deal. I don’t know anything about who is backing them money wise but I have heard it is the Coleman Camping fortune behind Big Dog. Hope that helped to answer some of your questions.

  5. 5 Sarge Aug 20th, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    Big Dog was educated enough to see this economic turndown last year, and for the last 15 months they have been supporting their dealer network with big incentives to lower the nationwide field inventory. This cost BDM money, but it made big gains for a healthier long term goals for everyone. That is where you will see outdated inventory below MSRP… not $10K (must have some fluff in the exuberant pricing there), but you get the point.

    Now the field inventory is at an all time low, and that is reflected at the factory as well. They have less than 100 2009’s there, and they only have 5 K-9’s left (yes, 5), which is the number one selling bike. If you check the NADA – resale is better than the other big guns out there.

    Over and Out,

    Sarge

  6. 6 David Blevins Aug 20th, 2009 at 1:46 pm

    just my opinion,
    I would have to agree, anyone wanting to buy a bike based on its resale value should not own a custom, or in this case a factory custom. I never particularly cared for the style of BigDog bikes, but a lot of people do, to each their own.
    As far as BigDog’s longevity, who is to say… to re-iterate, owning a custom bike has nothing to do with the company’s long term viability, but more your choice of what you want to ride.

  7. 7 Brandon Aug 20th, 2009 at 1:52 pm

    Nothing with an engine and less than 40 years old is an investment. Buying a motorcycle is buying pleasure. ,

  8. 8 Frito Bandido Aug 20th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    Kis me Kulo Promoto………u stupid gringo…..

    Big Perro wil die muy pronto……..basura bike

    Jesse James Lives!!!!!

    Frito Bandito

  9. 9 John E Adams Aug 20th, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    Nice piece Cyril, good mojo here -;0)

  10. 10 Scar thomson Aug 20th, 2009 at 9:10 pm

    Is big dog building a bike as dependendable as say Harley. Both my wife and I ride. We sold our Viragos with 64,000 miles on them. It all our ridinf we have blown a headlight bulb thats it. I quit riding HD in 1974 got feed up with being brok down all the damn time and feeling like I could never travel far form home. We are buying harleys this spring. I like the 2005 pittbull. WE ride 7,000 on a one time run each year. Is this bike up to it?
    S. Thomson

  11. 11 V-Twin Aug 20th, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    This story has two sides.

    Side 1. The story on KSN news stated Big Dog had 360 employees and now is down to 80. The majority of those 280 laid-off employees we high tenure loyal employees. That took great pride in what they did and the product they built. The company looked at profit margin and decided to dump 280 loyal employees. The process was by having the local law enforcement walk them to the parking lot.

    Side 2. Most people see a beautiful bike for sale on the dealers floor. They don’t know why the bike is discounted 10K.

  12. 12 nicker Aug 20th, 2009 at 10:45 pm

    RE:
    “…WE ride 7,000 on a one time run each year…”

    On an 05 Pittbull….???
    Describe this trip.

    -nicker-

  13. 13 Mike Aug 21st, 2009 at 12:06 am

    V-Twin,

    From 360 down to 80.

    That means they laid off 78% of their staff. And they are givign furloughs to the 22% of staff that are left.

    In your comment you say “. The company looked at profit margin and decided to dump 280 loyal employees”

    how do you come to that conclusion? It sounds like you are saying they wanted to maintain profit margins and they let go 280 people.

    If they let 78% of their staff go, it was NOT about margins, it was about survival. A manufacturing company might have sales of $150k per person. With 360 people, that would be around $54 million a year. A well run company may turn a 20% net profit. Which would mean they were earning $10 million a year on that $54 million in sales.

    Even IF they are maintaining 20% net profit (which I HIGHLY doubt), with 80 employees that means sales would be down to $12 million a year, meaning they may be earning $2.5 million a year.

    If the average cost per employee is $60k/yr (which is LOW when you consider taxes, benefits, insurance, etc), that means those 280 people cost them $16.8 million a year.

    how do you propose they pay $16.8 million to 280 employees when the *total* profit is $2.5 million? That would mean each employee would need to take an 85% pay cut to keep them employed. Would that work?

    And i’ll bet their net profit it was less than $2.5mm/yr now, I’ll bet they are not turning a profit at all. So how do you figure they were chasing profit and canned 280 people? It’s clearly impossible. But people always love to blame the rich guy like they somehow should just give and give and give until they don’t have anything left, if it helps others.

  14. 14 Steve Carr Aug 21st, 2009 at 5:37 am

    “We are buying harleys this spring. I like the 2005 pittbull. WE ride 7,000 on a one time run each year. Is this bike up to it?
    S. Thomson”

    What kinda of question is that Scott? If you are going to be riding those kind of miles and want something reliable and that offers real comfort, why would you not buy a bike such as a Harley Touring Model. Besides that, when you say you are buying “Harley’s” this spring, I dont think Harley-Davidson has a bike called a “2005 Pitbull”, Kinda like wanting to buy a 69 Chevy Mustang. The Harley Touring Models are wonderful, its like riding down the road on a lazyboy, cant beat it.

    Steve Carr

  15. 15 FUJI Aug 21st, 2009 at 6:44 am

    Frito Bandido .
    Get off those refrieds man the gas is messing with whats left of your cranial cavity, or intracranial space plus your starting to stain my monitor.

    Go hide behind a cactus some where but exclude Texas and Florida.

  16. 16 V-Twin Aug 21st, 2009 at 6:51 am

    Hello, Mike

    You missed my point.
    Most companies are downsizing and I feel there is a better way of doing it. Other companies in Kansas are giving there Loyal High Tenure employees 60 days notice, Re-hire rights and exit interviews. Letting the employee know how the company appreciated the years of dedicated service.

    The employees that made the company what it is deserve better than the local copes walking them out like criminals. The only notice there is of a layoff is when you see Cops when you arrive to work.

    Just my Humble opinion.

  17. 17 madpuppy Aug 21st, 2009 at 6:57 am

    To Steve Carr,

    Steve, when did they stop making the Chevy Mustang ?

    Tell me it aint true !

  18. 18 Woody Aug 21st, 2009 at 7:07 am

    madpuppy, it was replaced for 2009 with the Chevy Challenger 😉

  19. 19 Frito Bandido Aug 21st, 2009 at 8:11 am

    FUJI…..u stupid rice hombre

    Mi Papa sed never talk to jellow hombres…..they lie mucho…..

    go eat gato and rats….

    Jesse James lives !!!!!!!!!

    Frito Bandito

  20. 20 Rodent Aug 21st, 2009 at 10:15 am

    jesse james lives…in austin texas if frito bandito cares

  21. 21 Bobfather Aug 21st, 2009 at 10:25 am

    Actually there are several alternatives to an HD touring model. They don’t have the corner on the rubber mounted drivetrain market anymore. Some of us build rubber mounts that are even more comfortable and handle better than the HD models now. Don’t have to buy HD to buy American anymore. Now if you want a bike that looks like a million others on the road and parked at the next event, don’t mind saddlebags that were designed by the same people that designed the old school lunch boxes and don’t mind the attitudes at your local dealership then yes, HD would be fine.

  22. 22 Steve Carr Aug 21st, 2009 at 11:13 am

    Oh yes, that illusive Chevy Mustang.

    I think Johnny Cash wrote a song about a car like that once, some of the lyrics go something like this….

    ” it’s a 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59 automobile……..it’s a 60, 61, ……………”

    Or maybe even one of those Harley Goldwing Bikes might work too…..

    Or just buy a Honda, and sew on a nice Harley patch on the back of your jacket, that seems to be very trendy these day’s as well, See it all the time here in Tampa bay.

    Got to love those early hybrids man!

    Steve Carr

  23. 23 David Aug 21st, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    If you wanted to buy a bike as an investment You should have bought bikes back in the 50’s 60’s and 70’s and put them in a warehouse you would be rich now!!!

  24. 24 slobber Aug 21st, 2009 at 3:14 pm

    V-Twin,

    Let’s talk about the real world, shall we?

    Big Dog Motorcycles has not laid off 280 employees. Through six rounds of layoffs there have been 236 employees laid off. The remainder of the formerly employed have voluntarily left their positions or have been fired for other reasons, such as spending all day surfing the internet rather than working.

    Also, not one time ever has a local law enforcement officer escorted a former BDM employee off of the premises. If you can prove otherwise, please do so. Otherwise, cease misleading the general public, libeling BDM in the process. Know that legal action can and will be taken if necessary.

    As for how the layoffs are conducted, each layoff has been different. Some people have been given 60-day notices. Those that were given 60-day notices all complained about it so a decision was made to never do this again. Exit interviews are conducted with each and every employee before they are allowed to leave the premises, unless they do not wish to have the exit interview. Every individual layoff has been conducted with the utmost respect on the employee’s behalf. Every laid off employee will be considered for re-hire when that becomes possible.

    You are obviously one of the former employees who was fired, not laid off. All I can say to you is that you should have cared more about your job, your fellow employees and the company than you obviously did. You are a very selfish person, as you continue trying to harm the company and your former co-workers even after your employment has ended. This reinforces the decision to let you go in the first place.

    BDM is not happy about having to ever layoff anyone, believe me. We would love to still be selling 5,000 motorcycles per year, employing several hundred good, hardworking, honest Americans. Unfortunately we are not in a financial position to do so. The economy hasn’t helped, the federal government hasn’t helped small companies like ours, lending institutions hoarding money have not helped. But we will get through this, there is no doubt. We will come out of this stronger than ever.

    I work for the company, but I am not an official spokesperson. I am just tired of having this former employee commit libel all over the internet against the company that I love and believe in 100%.

  25. 25 Rice Burner Aug 21st, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    I doubt that any dedicated long term employee was escorted from Big Dog by a police officer during a layoff. Wichita has a local newspaper that would certainly have made that front page news. Loyal employees are treated with respect even during tough times at most companies. I suspect that is true for Big Dog as well. However, long term and loyal are not synonymous terms. Long term employees who threaten violence if they are affected by a layoff are not loyal employees.

  26. 26 FUJI Aug 21st, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    Frito Bandido :
    Jesse James lives in your dreams vaquero [ cowboy ]
    Usted mucho loco.

  27. 27 1550tc Aug 21st, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    These BDM bikes were like fashion and everyone knows what fashion is like?? Comes and goes as far as resale, its recreation and the two words are an oxymorn recreation and resale.

    Hey anybody know where ole Nick Messner is now days?? Iam sure Sheldon Coleman can pump all the family money into BDM, if he wants too. Competing with harley in the bagger busines is not going to be an easy job………………this is not 1999 and you can sell a re named 10k CCI bike for 14k, like starts like BBC did back in 00-01……………whole new market out there.

    The 35-40 market for custom bagger’s just isnt there and if it is, to me the CVO bikes own it, just look at all the CVO bagger hd now what 3 models now??

  28. 28 raaaaaa Aug 22nd, 2009 at 4:27 am

    Big Dog is a “FAD” motorcycle….just like ape handle bars are in today gone tomorrow….240mm rear tire “HOT” today gone tomorrow….I did not understand how they made a business model out of a type of bike that it’s only appeal was that most could not afford it…..OH, wait, my Harley had the same business model for 105 years…..

  29. 29 cooldaddy51 Aug 22nd, 2009 at 7:59 am

    After being in this industry for 37 years (full time 50 to 60 hour work weeks) I ve come to realize that its better to focus on the business rather than just talk about it.We are a BDM dealer since 03 and yes its tougher than it used to be , but it is a cycle ( no pun intended ) that I’ve seen before. We just had four more bikes delivered because people are asking for them! Customers that are buying now are for the most part cash customers or have lined up their own financing prior to even walking in.They are not dreamers with 500 scores and bankrupcies thinking their past problems just went away by themselves.As we call them in our store “serious contenders”. Our used HArleys are what they are ,now an entry level bike for someone who isn’t quite ready to jump to a Bike like Big Dog.
    Our customers who leave their Harley stock ( like thats going to happen!) have a good bike for the buck. As soon as you start sinking five to ten grand into a softail std or fatboy , you might as well have a BDM.As far as CVO’s ,when BDM has a special or “limited edition ” model you are talking maybe a hundred or so of that particular bike. How “special” is a screachin chickin when they produce thousands of the same Bike and if sales of that particular model are good,re-release several thousand more? Our new advertising campaign is going to focus on ” Big Dog Motorcycles , The logical alternative to Harley Davidson”. Of course this slogan will be accompanied by miniscule print stating this is the personal opinion of certain individuals etc. etc. LOL.

  30. 30 1550tc Aug 22nd, 2009 at 9:54 pm

    cooldaddy51

    Good points in your posts and yeah its just a smaller niche today with the economy, credit, easy refinancing homes for equity to buy toys………the few models are pretty good looking bikes so iam sure there are some customers out there for them. The problem i see with these bike companies is that they get up to 3-5000 units and they think their HD who sells 365,000 bikes…..why they dont just try and stay small & profitable rather than like Indian did try and compete with hd in their ad budgets is ??????? to me!

  31. 31 Bradley K Aug 22nd, 2009 at 10:25 pm

    Good Luck Big Dog. Competition is good for Harley. Can we get the price point lower in the furure & switch the electronucs back to the way they should be? Where is Nick?

  32. 32 1550tc Aug 23rd, 2009 at 2:18 pm

    Frito Bandido

    Frito just switch over to an ENGLIGH keyboard when you do your posts to Fuji . 🙂

  33. 33 cooldaddy51 Aug 23rd, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    1550tc,
    Big Dog was content with their market share and its slow upward climb .But Sheldon never wanted to do the kind of volume HD does.That my friends brings on a whole new level of problems.Keeping the Big Dog lineup in small ( by HD standards) volume keeps the product more exclusive to the average buyer.Having one of 150 makes you feel better than one of 10,000!
    Sheldon Coleman is an excellent businessman and quite the strategist when it comes to planning for the future.You can have all the money in the world but if you don’t know how to use it you’ll lose it.

    Bradley, price points are at a all time low with the introduction of the coyote.23,900 is banging at the door of HD fatboys with just alittle extra chrome. The drive train remaining the same on even the inexpensive BDM’s makes it difficult to get to too much lower price points than the coyote. Something has to give because its just all dollars and cents spreading them around a certain product will still add up to the same production cost. Myself I would like to see a simplified electrics system.
    My opinion the existing unit is overengeneered. With the cost of EHC replacement being sky high this might be an area to simplify and possibly engineer to a lower price point? We have changed older BDM to simpler units for half the cost of replacing with OEM . It can be done and no more problems! Also where is Nick? Great Guy enjoyed my talks with him. Nick if your out there reading this Blog, SPEAK !

  34. 34 spacefreak Aug 23rd, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    Nick Messer now works for a machine shop. Police presence during lay-offs is (or was) not uncommon regardless what slobber or any other yes-man who still works there. Yes I’m a former employee and I’m still pissed the way BDM goes about purging the knowledge there. Their bikes aren’t over engineered, matter of fact, they are barely engineered at all. They cant even make a gas tank liner stick and that’s been a problem for more than 10 years. And the EHC….Wire Plus came up with a compatable system that tested quite reliable but BDM wouldn’t use it.
    Now that they only build 2 a day when they can afford to run the assembly line, perhaps they should start doing quality work again. LOL

  35. 35 TammyKool Aug 24th, 2009 at 7:10 am

    ” I like the 2005 pittbull. WE ride 7,000 on a one time run each year. Is this bike up to it?”

    Kudos to y’all for doing it on a BD! I had a 2000 Custom BD Pitbull (rigid!) that I rode from SoFla to TN and NC once year – 2500 miles in 19 days. Every day of the trip you’d find me up early in the parking lot topping off the oil and tightening down all the bolts!! After that trip, my husband said I blew up the engine… she was burning oil bad. I loved that bike! Had to trade her in. At that time I bought a Wide Glide for cruising. The last two years though I’ve had a Street Glide and LOVE IT!!! I’ve got 22000 miles on her in 2 years.

    I do wish we’d kept the BD and just rebuilt the engine. She was a fun, fun bike to ride!!

    Chopper Chick turned Bagger Babe. It’s all good!

    PS – everyone else went “off thread” so figured my comments flow right in LOL!!

    Make it a great day rubber side down!

  36. 36 FREDP Aug 24th, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    Nick is working for Milliniuem Machine in Wichita,Ks. An aerospace and limited parts supplier to BDM ! I saw him in Cinncy with that company.

  37. 37 Gene Aug 24th, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    One of BDMs downfalls was not listening to engineering enough and relying too much on the sales/marketing team. They are all good guys but the designers would come up with some great concepts and by the time sales/marketing was done with them it looked like the same bike as the year before. They allowed just enought changes to go thru that engineering resources were strained and then would change it at the last minute and unproven product would be shipped out the door to meet schedules. Don’t get me wrong there were times sales were correct and engineering needed to be ignored, communication between the two and product definitions that did not change were nearly non-existant. It should have been more of a two way street with style future looking to the market and not just what a few guys thought looked cool. You hire people to be exports in a field, you should listen to them and let them be your exports. There were some really nice concepts left on the design room floor, bagger could have been out at least a year earlier when they were actually popular. All that beeing said the new pitbull and wolf were nice, hats off to all for that.

  38. 38 A$$HOLE Aug 25th, 2009 at 3:34 am

    Having been a laid off, loyal worker at BDM for many years, it is easy to spot the short tem, ineffective employees who were fired for theft, insabordination, or just plain, piss poor work ethic, as they are the ones who are talking trash on the company, who I know for a fact that handled layoffs in a respectful, humane manner. All though I was upset to lose my job, in the 6th round of layoffs, and to realize I just simply got caught up in the politics of being sacrificed to save the job of my over paid, under achiever boss, I was still handled with th utmost respect, both in employment, and in my layoff. This company might be struggling, but they have always treated their employees better than most any other companies I have had the opportunity to work with. This company will remain on the scene for many years to come. They will continue to shrink, until they reach a sustainable level, even if it means one bike a month out of a garage. Still to this day I remain in contact with Sheldon Coleman and several of the VPs at BDM, and I am still treated with concern, respect and compassion. We speak regularly about business, as well as the hard decisions that have to be made in order to save the company. Even choices that are less than popular, that Sheldon absolutely laments, but must make to insure the health of the company. As for the police escorts from the property, that is just plain BULLSHIT! !! There might have been a single case of an employee, who got fired, and then acted like a 13 year old crack head gangbanger, and made threats to the safety of the staff, but that is it. Act like a fool, get treated like a fool. Good luck to BDM, their dealers, their employees and families, as well as their competition. It is a tuff market and I wish all in the motorcycle industry good luck and a quick recovery. To all of the shit talkers…Karma is a bitch, and you have a truck load of negativity working it’s way back around to you. Enjoy!

  39. 39 Sharpo Aug 25th, 2009 at 10:00 am

    Well put A$$HOLE, I am however one person that has seen the rise and the decline of the motorcycle sales in this country first hand. It has been a tough road to travel, but Big Dog will survive. To “Gene” that made the comments about the reason for Big Dogs decline, It didn’t have a whole lot to do with the designs of the bikes. Do you really think that if they would have listened to engineering more, we wouldn’t have a slow economy? C’mon. Your Sales staff is listening to the Cusomers in the field and relaying their comments. It’s usually not what sales wants, it’s what the consumer wants.

    Good Luck Big Dog. I still have a lot of friends working there and hope the VP’s are listening to their employees and not thinking they know it all.

    Sharpo

  40. 40 Frank H. Aug 25th, 2009 at 4:13 pm

    Big Dog is doomed! This has been coming for some time now and surprises no one in the industry! If you listen closely and put aside the PR crap from Big Dog you can hear the death rattles, the same rattles American Ironhorse had.

  41. 41 A$$HOLE Aug 26th, 2009 at 1:27 am

    Anyone “in the industry” as Frank puts it, knows BDM is still one of the best run motorcycle companies in the US. It really shows your ass to compare BDM and AIH as they could not be further apart, but then again if you were such a big part of the industry you would know that. Like I said BDM will be around a long, long time, even if it means they shrink back to their humble beginnings. You’re just one of the jealous haters, who wish you could have even a fraction of the success of this company. You take pleasure in other’s mistfortune, wish ill upon others to make you feel better about your own insignificance. I do not lsten to the PR from the BDM Marketing dept, rather from the owner and the pulse of the company.

  42. 42 Frank H. Aug 26th, 2009 at 10:37 am

    A$$HOLE,

    You said the same thing about AIH …. remember? Coleman would un-ass this company in a New York second if he could find someone to pay the price.

    FYI: As you know, I am in the industry and have been for many years now. I work for a company that helped start the whole “motorcycle revolution” and will be one of the companies that will survive this down turn in sales and the economy, so no jealousy or no envy of BD, just knowledge of history.

    Question: Why is it that anyone who disagrees with a particular opinion has to be a “Hater”? Such a childish term. Grow up.

  43. 43 A$$HOLE Aug 27th, 2009 at 1:48 am

    Again my statement was quite simple. BDM is still one of the best run motorcycle companies in the US. Maybe I mistated by forgetting a few words. Any one in the industry WHO HAS HAD DEALINGS WITH BDM will tell you the same. They offer customer support that is second to none. And they honor their warranty. Way more than can be said for AIH. As for AIH…oh my fault. They are just kicking ass and taking names…right? They are only on their second, or third bankruptcy? Second or third owners? Again, apples and oranges, BDM and AIH. Any business in this market would be sold if the price was right, even the one you work for. I honsetly do not believe Sheldon Coleman would sell this company, period. He has spent too much time, money, and effort to make it work. He battled for years and millions of dollars just to keep the name. Again like I said I believe he will continue to shrink the company until it reaches a sustainable level, even if it meant a bike a month out of his personal garage. Every one believes they were a part of beginning the motorcycle revolution. I am sure your company has not had any slow downs, lay offs, or any ill effects due to this economy, right? I would like to know the name of that company. Being such a history buff, then you should be able to look back at many companies, in all sectors of business that in slow times, made difficult decisions, and adjustments to ensure their survival, that actually come back just as strong, if not stronger when the economy turned around. As for me using the term hater, I try to keep it simple for brevity sake. Ok, how about doomsdayers, eternal pessimists, Maybe I should just call you Chicken Little. You hear a piece of bad news, and is is automatically the worst case scenario, as long as it is not the company you work for. Of course they are impervious to a downfall. Grow up? I would man up to you and anyone else anytime, and anywhere. But again I was merely stating an opinion on a blog, and you disagree. So be it. Time will tell. Again like I said before I wish them luck, as well as their employees, suppliers, dealers, and even their competition. (Even your company.) Agree with me or not it is bad for the industry when a company such as BDM goes under, and wishing them ill is cutting your own throat in the long run.

  44. 44 bigalyts Aug 30th, 2009 at 3:09 pm

    Hello A$$ HOLE I think you are very Admirable as were all of the Big Dog Reps and even Their Dealers that I met at some of the Shows. They make a Decent Bike. I went to my Local Dealer Tuesday and the Factory took all His Inventory away. Where do they take the Dealer Buy Backs? ALSO FRITO BANDITO El Kisse Me Assay yo Moro ! Jesse James SUCKS ! He will Live on cause all His Stunts on His Show were to amuse all you Esse Bandito’s ! That Show SUCKS a BIG ONE, eh Frito Dicko !

  45. 45 A$$HOLE Sep 2nd, 2009 at 3:03 am

    bigalyts, from what I understand, it sounds like the dealer lost his license to sell BDM, that is about the only time they would TAKE a dealers inventory. In most cases the bikes would go to any other dealers that were interested in adding some stock. If not they would come back to Wichita, and go into the barn and sold on incentives. Thank you for your kind words. I might have been laid off, but I still hold a favorable opinion of the company as it was like family. I was treated well, and I have no ill will. Frito Bandito and Jesse James are both douches, and seem to be one in the same. Only Jesse James thinks Jesse James is that cool.

  46. 46 RZ,HENDERSON,NV. Sep 14th, 2009 at 10:51 pm

    I AM CURRENTLY RIDING MY SECOND BIG DOG, A 2007 CHOPPER, THE FIRST BEING A 2005.

    WHEN ANYONE BUYS A BIKE CAR OR ANY ELECTONIC OR MECHANICAL ITEM FOR THAT
    MATTER THEY CAN ALSO ONLY WORK AS WELL AS WHO IS WORKING ON IT.
    IT HAS BEEN MY FIRST HAND EXPERIANCE THAT WHENEVER I HAD A PROBLEM IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS,BE IT MAJOR OR MINOR, AND I FELT THAT MY LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT HANDLING IT TO MY SATISFACTION, ALL IT TOOK WAS A CALL TO THE BDM FACTORY.
    IN PARTICULAR I HAVE DEALT WITH WAYNE HANSON IN CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO ON EVERY OCCASION THOUGH FEW, HAS EFFICIENTLY, COURTEOUSLY, AND PROFESSIONALLY TAKEN CARE OF IT AND MORE. MY HOPES ARE THAT WAYNE AND THE REST OF THE REMAINING STAFF CAN WEATHER THE STORM THAT IS EFFECTING EVERYONE WHO IS READING THIS.
    THIS IS A GOOD COMPANY WITH GOOD HARD WORKING PEOPLE, ALL OF WHOM ARE WORKING ABOVE AND BEYOND TO GET THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.
    I WOULD HOPE THEY WILL BE AROUND FOR MY THIRD BIG DOG!!!!!!!!!!
    CUSTOMER SERVICE SECOND TO NONE.

  47. 47 gypsy jay Oct 5th, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    i think the markets will force the surviving companies to produce a better bike. dont get me wrong, big dog bikes look cool, but ill do 500 plus miles in a day. dont know many guys on show bikes that ride like that. i still think its possible to put together a cool looking bike thats economical and road worthy. i like the fat bob. if i was in the market for another bike that would prob be my pick.

  1. 1 Big Dog Motorcycles Takes Austerity Measures To Preserve Its Future. - Harley Forums USA Pingback on Aug 24th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
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