With profits dropping 91 per cent in the three months from April through June, Harley-Davidson has announced plans to reduce its workforce by 1,000 people in the United States

Motorcycle shipments will also be reduced.

The company’s earnings dropped from $222.8 million U.S. to just $19.8 million in the quarter. Revenue fell to $1.15 billion, a 27 per cent drop, as sales declined.

No word from Deeley Harley-Davidson, the Canadian distributor.

It is sad but not unexpected. The Motor Company's aggressive expansion of production with apparently not enough analysis of consumer demand and a near sighted view of consumer demographics. How many bikes could they sell to China and India ? Obviously not enough.  This shouldn't be a surprise when you see 2009 Bike inventories of 100 or so unsold machines per dealership, just 2 weeks before the traditional intro of 2010 models.   Plus my personal beef of them jacking up the price 10 % in a supposed USD adjustment that only alienated me as a potential customer ...  I say "Let the Sales Begin !" Posted by Mr X 2009-07-16 12:44 I've talked to a couple fellows trying to sell their HD's. Both are recent models (2007 & 200 and are supposedly priced right yet neither has had a call. Looking through the Auto Trader site I wonder what they consider "priced right" as many HD's seem priced pretty high. Posted by Joel 2009-07-16 15:45 Why did I get a smiley face when I tried to type 2008? Ah well, one was a 2008. Posted by joel 2009-07-16 15:46 The party's over Harley. Isn't it about time to face reality? Oh wait, no need to, since you are a US motor company, the government will throw a few billion dollars to 'save' you. Posted by Willi 2009-07-17 06:22 After trying to talk to most of the HD dealers in Ontario, I bought a BMW. You reap what you sew. Posted by Roadrunner 2009-07-17 08:46 Just curious if the drop in revenue was year over year or from 1st to 2nd quarter? Either way it's a huge drop but qtr to qtr can be misleading due to seasonality and sales trends. Posted by Johnson 2009-07-17 10:51