Harley-Davidson Apparel To Fatten Bottom Line

The India market is huge, and waiting for Harley-davidson models to be more affordable for them when bikes will be assembled locally, many Indians can now start living the American Way Of Life and make a fashion statement by wearing the Bar & Shield logo. Currently the India Harley merchandise revenue stands at 5%.  However Harley-Davidson is very confident that this percentage will become very high in India. Anoop Prakash, who is the managing director of Harley Davidson India says that “The size of the Indian retail industry is huge, growing at a very fast pace and offers strong demand for merchandising and branded products. We see huge opportunity for Harley riding gears and fashion merchandises”. And of course, due to cheap India labor you can expect, more gear and merchandise to be produced in India…with probably part of the production being imported in the US.

17 Responses to “Harley-Davidson Apparel To Fatten Bottom Line”


  1. 1 LENNY SINNET ASTC PERFORMANCE Nov 21st, 2010 at 11:28 am

    Cheep labor manufacturing in India and selling in the USA another product taking jobs away from the USA worker who is the end user for Harley being hurt and now not being able to afford to buy Harley. The whole circle of events is not helping the USA market.

  2. 2 DJ Nov 21st, 2010 at 1:20 pm

    I am sick to my stomach that we were once again sold out by H-D. Who care if another country is living “the American dream”.. They are not American! The industry as a whole has taken a nose dive and I am for the first time considering leaving the life that I love. It is true what they say about getting your ol’ lady’s name tattooed on you and how you will regret it cause relationships don’t last.. Well I have a bar and shield that I am ashamed of

  3. 3 CurtizH Nov 21st, 2010 at 8:09 pm

    India is supplying the world with engineers. The math courses taught in there schools is second to none, to go along with colleges that are extremely hard to gain admission to. So India, I challenge you…… stand up………….get up to the plate……… let’s see what you can bring to the motorcycling world.

    H-D close the barn doors, get back home, we love the brand, we love the look, there is a still plenty of market share here to be had.

  4. 4 Woody Nov 22nd, 2010 at 12:17 am

    At least shipping could be inexpensive on the India apparel. I’m picturing a jacket label that says, “Made Down The Street”.

  5. 5 Chris Nov 22nd, 2010 at 7:39 am

    I guess everyone forgot that Harley is a business.Does anyone remember the AMF bikes ? After the company was bought back and started building the evo bikes every body got on the Harley band wagon . They turned their back on the true loyal customer for a buck . Now every other country wants to live the American dream so Harley is going to kiss their ass cause the USA is broke . Another 2 years the new paprika tail should be coming out .Don’t feel bad it’s only business .Buy American , buy one of Cyril’s bikes.

  6. 6 disturbedvn Nov 22nd, 2010 at 8:48 am

    didn’t need a banner plane to fly over to see this one coming. FU Harley.

  7. 7 NoH2Oh Nov 22nd, 2010 at 10:10 am

    ” And of course, due to cheap India labor you can expect, more gear and merchandise to be produced in India…with probably part of the production being imported in the US.”

    No kidding. I find it laughable that a bike company that tries to scream Americana in everything it does fails to offer a made in USA leather jacket in its chrome emporiums (formerly known as motorcycle shops…but that was a long time ago). As far as I know, the last time HD offered a USA made jacket was when Buell and Vanson had a marketing agreement.

    Bought a new jacket this year, but after two Vanson’s and the departure of my Buell I wanted something a bit more traditional looking. Everything I saw was made in a country we once fought in, fought over or that I had no idea even existed. Sad. Then I found Fox Creek Leather and their made in USA heavyweight jackets. Look ’em up and keep a few jobs here in the US. Yes, they are more $$$$ than the paper thin Paki jackets found on the rack, but you will be able to pass it along to your kids when you are done putting a boot down.

  8. 8 Whiplash Nov 22nd, 2010 at 11:28 am

    “Buy American , buy one of Cyril’s bikes.” Well, Cyril Huze is French, and I’m sure he caught a lot of crap from the self righteous here in America when he started building bikes.

    I really don’t understand this whole “Harley belongs to America” crap. HD is a business and if the Indians want to ride motorcycles who better to sell them bikes than an American business? Would you guys rather the Japanese sell them bikes?

  9. 9 Woody Nov 22nd, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    “I really don’t understand this whole “Harley belongs to America” crap.”
    It comes from the way the MOCO has advertised and branded itself, a contradiction that has been echoed by a lot of their riders and frankly, gags folks more and more. I remember going from righteous bro to Japcrapscum when I’d get off my ’79 FL and onto my ’86 Shadow-all in the same day 😉 I still get folks with huge American flags hanging off their increasingly foreign Harley bike, talking smack to me when I’m on my “made in Ohio” Valkyrie. That’s the “Harley belongs to America” crap.” IMHO.

  10. 10 1550tc Nov 22nd, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    “Buy American”

    yeah right!!!

    stores would be empty on friday LOL now that would be a real black friday for the usa

    in all seriousness just saw a menards flyer with some made in the usa promotion they were having and wow i was amazed how many quality products are still made in the good ole usa 🙂

  11. 11 J Nov 22nd, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    LOL- wait until the Indians find out what the jackets are made from………. Marketing Gaffe 101

    Ya, good idea, ride Harleys in India…… Now, if India only had decent paved roads to ride them on….. Oh ya, those are coming, uh huh……

    When do we see the “Born To Be Bad” turbans go on sale at dealerships here?

    Wait until Indian opens up a plant over there and really screws with their heads……

  12. 12 DJ Nov 22nd, 2010 at 4:07 pm

    If you don’t understand the whole “Harley belongs to America” thing then you don’t understand the life and you are just another yuppie scumbag. Go buy a boat or a corvette and leave the bikes to the big boys

  13. 13 cooldaddy51 Nov 22nd, 2010 at 4:34 pm

    I have to agree with 1550tc. If you truely want to be a purist and buy american you will have a difficult time finding ANYTHING out there anymore short of groceries and eventhose if they are organic local grown yes but alot of what we consume is coming from mexico. Harley sold out a long time ago,”showa forks” japan,castings from mexico,etc ,etc. Lets face it .We did this to ourselves. Think about it.Insurance costs rising , healthcare rising, law suits rising, electric bills, water bills, sewage, sick days , vacation weeks,unemployment costs,unions, retirement pensions,medicare ,social security and RISING TAXES ! As a small business owner this is enough to make you puke without adding the monthly costs to keep your store open. This happens on a grand scale to big business .So they have no choice but to go to a country where they can manage their overhead. Its a vicious cycle that we cannot stop. I buy american whenever I can but its becoming harder to find. Here is a good example that makes me feel better. I inhereted my fathers craftsman drill. All aluminum body indestructible half inch drill with the same original brushes in it never rebuilt ! Circa 1962 ! Runs like a champ.has hit a concrete floor maybe hundred times over the years. No problems. You don’t even want to know how many crap Mikitas ,hitachi and even newer craftsman units I’ve gone through. Building a unit like this 1962 model here in the US now would make it unaffordable for the average guy. SO the cycle continues.

  14. 14 Michael Nov 22nd, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    Boy, the HATERS sure came out on this one didn’t they? Guess what?
    ♪ …HATERS GONNA HATE… ♫

  15. 15 Michael Nov 22nd, 2010 at 7:46 pm

    -Oh and J? You fail at Indian trivia. Turbans are worn primarily by Sikhs, who tend to live in Pakistan -Not India, which is populated primarily by Hindus. So a more applicable, less easy and less ignorant joke would have been: “What’s next, Cows instead of Hogs?” or even “What’s next, a Ganesha over the Bar & Shield?”

  16. 16 Mr. Knuckles Dec 6th, 2010 at 5:24 pm

    @michael
    Don’t want to split hairs but the Sikhs are from Northern India, although I’ve seen them as far away as Bangkok and the Palo Alto airport rental car places.

    On another note:
    I’d like one of those Ganesh bar and shields, but only if his arms had tattoos.

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