Comments on: Honda Ending Motorcycle Production in U.S.

By: SLOWDOG

SLOWDOG — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:50:32 +0000

I’ve never been a Harley fan. If I’d been born 80 years ago I might have been an Indian guy. But I like the Goldwings and I don’t really care where they build them. I was proud to sell Hondas back in the seventies before they bult that plant and and I am proud to won a brand new Goldwing. I think its great that nobody will lose their job (even if they have to work on “cars”).
I don’t think it’s that big of a deal if Honda thinks they are better off producing more cars in Marysville and more motorcycles in Japan. It may well cost more for the US consumer, but it must make sense for Honda.
I drive a Ford truck and I’m happy with it…and I’ll probably get another Ford because I think the quality has really improved in recent years. But it’s ONLY gotten better because Detroit realized it had to compete with Japan. I don’t put all the blame on the unions…it’s been a team effort of mediocrity between management and labor for many years.

By: Zen

Zen — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:33:03 +0000

I’ve always supported Honda rather than over-priced American made junk.

Note the article mentions no lay-offs. At least they are not moving operations to Mexico which is an insult to the consumer in the States.

By: Herb

Herb — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:41:32 +0000

“Buy American” is a great idea as long as I don’t have to sacrifice quality to get the American product. Unfortunately, that’s too often the case. For example, I bought GM cars for 25 years but it got to the point where I couldn’t afford them any more so I started buying Hondas or Toyotas. I’m not saying the purchase price was higher on the GM products – it was the opposite. What I couldn’t afford was the constant break-downs, downtime for trips to the dealer for warranty work (when they would honor their warranty) etc.

And don’t tell me that the money stays at home when you buy a Harley. Take a look at all the foreign parts that make up today’s Harley and you’ll see that a LOT of money goes overseas.

If, instead of motor vehicles, it was the quality of domestic food that was suffering, which would you rather have – domestic fruit or vegetables that are bruised, wilted and bug infested or quality food from another country? That “buy American” chant loses it’s appeal rather quickly, doesn’t it? All I’m saying is if the American company can build what I want at an acceptable level of quality then I’m all for it. If not, then sell your junk to someone else.

By: Cody G

Cody G — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:48:07 +0000

I see some have the old attitude of “Buy American” only. Why don’t you have that attitude with other products like crude oil.

I’ll stop buying foreign produced product…WHEN YOU STOP BUYING FOREIGN PRODUCED OIL!

The bottom line is this: Domestic produced products (ie bikes, cars, etc) are much higher and poorer quality because of UNIONS.

Domestic oil cost more to produce because of the environmentalists… the NIMBYs (not and my back yard) and the NOTES (not over there EITHER!).

Again…read my lips…I will continue to buy Honda no matter where they are built. And again I will say……

I’ll stop buying foreign products…when you stop buying foreign oil.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:23:18 +0000

The article I saw on this noted that the Maryville factory is running at about 60% capacity. That added cost would certainly bridge the difference caused by the cheap dollar.

Its pretty obvious that Honda has decided that the large motorcycle market in the US isn’t going to grow very much in the next few years.