Buffett bites the HOG

Thank you Mr Buffett- now go straighten General Electric out- get rid of Jeff Immelt-

These types of "bargain investments" just take a few years to cycle through to become profitable.

For those of us at retirement age who have the money, we really don't particularlyhave the time to wait out these long terminvestments. We're caught between having the money to invest; but no available investments with reasonable steady RoIs.

it's a bitch regardless of how you cut it, isn't it?

Harley is in a bad place because the only reason to buy a Harley is to have a "Harley". Many of the buyers have moved on to custom builders after finding out how much of an American Harley is made in China.

You can also get a Suzuki, Yamaha, or Honda with all of th estyle of a Harley for half the price. It will also last forever vs the massive repairs any Harley needs after a few years.

Harley motorcycles are junk filled with tons of cheap Chinese parts. When the company went public it was the end of the well built bike. Cost cutting, dividends, and capitulation to shareholders is what runs the company today.

Buying Hraley merchandise is perhaps the biggest ripoff in retail today. They charge over 500% markup on some products. It is amazing what a logo can do. Someone will pay $300 for a piece of metal stamped in China for a few pennies.

To note, all of Buffett's recent moves are all interest-bearing in the double digits on guarantee or implicit guarantee. Retailers don't have such luck with common stock dividends, which get cut first before bond debt and preferred debt.

Iridium obviously has not a clue what he is talking about. I've been a Harley rider for over 20 years and to this day would not throw my leg over a Jap bike. Owning a Harley isn't just about owning a "Harley". It's about the lifestyle, the people, the history. It's about something you wouldn't understand if I tried to explain it to you for a month. You've got to go out there and live it. As the saying goes, "If I have to explain it, you wouldn't understand". End of story.

Iridium and JCHDGuy both make legit points, albeit with very different styles.
Iridium leads with his head while JCHDGuy leads with his heart. Both are right; neither is wrong. Except on one point...a Harley is not junk. Harley motorcycles don't contain any more Chinese made parts than other brands. Perhaps less. It's the engineering that matters anyway, not the operator of the CNC machine(s). Which is why I do agree with Iridium that Japanese brands last forever. It's also why I bought one.

I think Iridium would like to be a Harley owner, as would I, but neither of us could bring ourselves to part with the extra dollars. I have the cash to own a Harley, but couldn't justify the additional expense when comparing them to other brands. I went with a stock Suzuki cruiser, and then beefed it up with aftermarket 'stuff'. No different than what many Harley owners do. The difference is dollars. My 'rice burner' cruiser has "taken down" many a Harley since I added aftermarket products...and I'm still about $4k ahead of where I'd be if I'd bought a stock Harley. Never mind how much ahead, dollar-wise, I'd be if I added the same aftermarket products to a Harley.

I've found the biking lifestyle and rider companionship to be no less enjoyable and rewarding because of owning a Suzuki. True, I don't get to share in the traditions and historical lore of Harley owners. But I'm OK with that. It's the part of the riding experience that I value less than the $4k I kept in my pocket.

By the way, Iridium. I think you're right about outlandish retail mark-ups. But Harley is far from alone here. 500% is very common. From logo branded motorcycle gear to brand named sunglasses to...you name it. Lead pencils are a great example. You probably wouldn't believe how much it DOESN'T cost to make one of those. So, no far bashing Harley alone on this one.