The fall of Alta

nickm wrote:

Great video. Agree that BRP won't be making a Can-Am dirt bike with Alta tech; however Alta tech continues to a big part of the BRP...

Great video. Agree that BRP won't be making a Can-Am dirt bike with Alta tech; however Alta tech continues to a big part of the BRP product plan, they've already announced electric SeaDoos, Can-Am ATV/SXS to be available in the next 2 years, and an electric SkiDoo can't be far behind.

Great tech too bad the BRP deal hadn't shown up before the Harley deal. BRP already has a solid dealer network and it would have been a quick and easy way to revive the Can-Am dirt bike brand. BRP money, R&D and production facilities and engineering sure would have put Alta entirely out of financial risk as well.

BIGRIGGIN wrote:

Cool video. Someone please hook that dude up with a visor ... the Q ball helmet look helps no argument.

Cool video. Someone please hook that dude up with a visor ... the Q ball helmet look helps no argument.

-MAVERICK- wrote:

Electric snowmobile is in development.

TheGetFresh wrote:

Fortnine produces really high quality content that punches way above its weight in regards to production value. The writing, research and video production all rival much...

Fortnine produces really high quality content that punches way above its weight in regards to production value. The writing, research and video production all rival much bigger media companies and it’s just Ryan (the tall dorky guy) and a couple of camera guys and editors. That channel is everything right about YouTube.

BIGRIGGIN wrote:

Cool video. Someone please hook that dude up with a visor ... the Q ball helmet look helps no argument.

Cool video. Someone please hook that dude up with a visor ... the Q ball helmet look helps no argument.

TeamGreen wrote:

I recently thought damn seriously about buying a Harley FLH Revival form their new amazing Icon Series of bikes...it's a GORGEOUS scoot for cruising Daytona, Sturgis...

I recently thought damn seriously about buying a Harley FLH Revival form their new amazing Icon Series of bikes...it's a GORGEOUS scoot for cruising Daytona, Sturgis, Old Guy Touring...you know...that stuff. I was even "getting a deal" on the thing...limited production and all that...

I got to thinking about giving my money to Harley. The guys that, it seems, make more stuff over-seas than they do here. The guys that claim "Murica" all the time. I even recalled the HORRIFIC stories I'd heard from Alta and Buell peeps.

So, "Nah! Fuq Harley and their BS and their Lawyers" is the decision I came to. Yeah, I know, sounds stupid, right? Well, it mattered to me; because, I KNOW Harley's history.

Still, you CAN just say that Harley was just being "smart" as they crushed the little guys...like Alta, right? Oh...that's "allegedly", btw!

You know, there's Real History when it comes to Harley & the ways they deal with the competition...and OTHER legal games they've played...and all that...

We're talking about the SAME Harley that whined, bitched and moaned to our Federal Government when Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki were making Great Motorcycles that made HD's look like the ABSOLUTE Pieces of Shit that they were...at the time...in the 80s...or did we forget?
The SAME Harley that whined to the AMA when Honda showed up...with a V-Twin...and kicked Harley's ASS ALL OVER THE OVALs of America.
The SAME Harley that recently cried like a bitch when Indian ran them OFF of the Ovals of America...just like Honda did in the 80s...but, much more RECENTLY!

So...them...that Harley? Nah. Fuq them.

And...yes...our Bro's at Alta should have pulled their heads out and gotten themselves some legit counsel; so, it's on them...too.

Ultimately, we're getting some solid-tricked-out "electrics"; but, as usual...Harley fuq'd up the end game simply by being Harley...as usual.

Here's something that's a ridiculous ending point to my rant: Harley's new Pan America is simply THE BEST ADV in the "Land Yacht" category. Period. And I'll be damned...just like the FLH Revival...I want one...and...

That PISSES ME OFF!

Btw, this ALL is just my opinion and I may be wrong.

I'm jus' sayin'...

McG194 wrote:

Blah blah blah Harley sucks and they are big meanies. Nevermind that Alta was selling a racebike that had no class to race in. I'm sure...

Blah blah blah Harley sucks and they are big meanies.

Nevermind that Alta was selling a racebike that had no class to race in.

I'm sure the KTM group, Honda Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki were really looking forward to going toe to toe with Alta.

The company was building a great bike and had lots of promise, but they were hemorrhaging money. Not the ideal situation when you are trying to take on an entire industry that doesn't want you around.

Nowhere in the story did they mention that (If I recall correctly) none of the upper management team had ever run a business.

From what I have been told H-D did their due diligence prior to investing but when they got inside and saw how bad things were, they said; Screw this, it would be cheaper to start from scratch. The Alta technology wasn't particularly revolutionary as evidenced by how much better the Stark is a few short years later. So, all Harley was buying is some good but not great technology, some high fixed cost {San Fran rent) and a brand that was the at the time leading the way.

Never believe a story that puts all the blame on one party like this guy does. The people mainly responsible for Alta's downfall are Alta. Harley could have been more of a white knight and thrown more money at them, but the business case said it was a bad move and H-D shareholders didn't agree to rescuing poorly run companies. Don't forget to cut a little piece of blame pie for the racing organizations that refused to find a home for the Alta.

OrangeJuice158 wrote:

Interesting, lithium batteries don’t work much below freezing so I guess you gotta run battery heaters when you arnt giving it the beans.

McG194 wrote:

Blah blah blah Harley sucks and they are big meanies. Nevermind that Alta was selling a racebike that had no class to race in. I'm sure...

Blah blah blah Harley sucks and they are big meanies.

Nevermind that Alta was selling a racebike that had no class to race in.

I'm sure the KTM group, Honda Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki were really looking forward to going toe to toe with Alta.

The company was building a great bike and had lots of promise, but they were hemorrhaging money. Not the ideal situation when you are trying to take on an entire industry that doesn't want you around.

Nowhere in the story did they mention that (If I recall correctly) none of the upper management team had ever run a business.

From what I have been told H-D did their due diligence prior to investing but when they got inside and saw how bad things were, they said; Screw this, it would be cheaper to start from scratch. The Alta technology wasn't particularly revolutionary as evidenced by how much better the Stark is a few short years later. So, all Harley was buying is some good but not great technology, some high fixed cost {San Fran rent) and a brand that was the at the time leading the way.

Never believe a story that puts all the blame on one party like this guy does. The people mainly responsible for Alta's downfall are Alta. Harley could have been more of a white knight and thrown more money at them, but the business case said it was a bad move and H-D shareholders didn't agree to rescuing poorly run companies. Don't forget to cut a little piece of blame pie for the racing organizations that refused to find a home for the Alta.

McG194 wrote:

Blah blah blah Harley sucks and they are big meanies. Nevermind that Alta was selling a racebike that had no class to race in. I'm sure...

Blah blah blah Harley sucks and they are big meanies.

Nevermind that Alta was selling a racebike that had no class to race in.

I'm sure the KTM group, Honda Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki were really looking forward to going toe to toe with Alta.

The company was building a great bike and had lots of promise, but they were hemorrhaging money. Not the ideal situation when you are trying to take on an entire industry that doesn't want you around.

Nowhere in the story did they mention that (If I recall correctly) none of the upper management team had ever run a business.

From what I have been told H-D did their due diligence prior to investing but when they got inside and saw how bad things were, they said; Screw this, it would be cheaper to start from scratch. The Alta technology wasn't particularly revolutionary as evidenced by how much better the Stark is a few short years later. So, all Harley was buying is some good but not great technology, some high fixed cost {San Fran rent) and a brand that was the at the time leading the way.

Never believe a story that puts all the blame on one party like this guy does. The people mainly responsible for Alta's downfall are Alta. Harley could have been more of a white knight and thrown more money at them, but the business case said it was a bad move and H-D shareholders didn't agree to rescuing poorly run companies. Don't forget to cut a little piece of blame pie for the racing organizations that refused to find a home for the Alta.

queen of spodes wrote:

KTM/Hus/GG and Yamaha continue to sell racebikes that have no pro classes to race. People continue buying and racing them anyway. Altas is allowed in any...

KTM/Hus/GG and Yamaha continue to sell racebikes that have no pro classes to race. People continue buying and racing them anyway. Altas is allowed in any local "open" class if not others.