Big Dog Shrinks
Wednesday May 21, 2008
Big Dog Motorcycles has joined the ranks of bike builders suffering under the strain of tight economic times, and the Wichita-based company has shed 20 of its workers in the second set of layoffs attributed to an uncertain economy.
In the wake of American IronHorse filing Chapter 11 and the overall motorcycle industry seeing a downturn for the first time in 14 years, one can only anticipate that more bad news will surface before the tide turns and the industry rebounds. In the meantime, if you identify with Harley's most recent marketing approach, you're probably saying something along the lines of "Screw it, let's ride!"
Photo © Big Dog
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It is about time! All those customs are a colossal waste of everything. Totally impractical and way too costly. People that own them very rarely ride them for fear of damaging their over-costly works of art. Maybe the other manufacturers will finally wise up by going back to the basic motorcycle instead of the sport (race/track), cruiser (Harley wanna-be), and naked (stripped down sport). Just give us a motorcycle like in the mid-80’s.
There you go again, Gregory E. Douchebag! Just because they’re too costly for you doesn’t make them a waste.
They do cost a lot but if you can pay for them who the hell am I to throw a stone.
I just do not want to hear it when your Back, legs and butt is in pain trying to ride it out of state with me. Ok get your self some AAA when the parts fly off but they do look Real good and is someone enjoys them well it’s still a free US. I am also fee not to ride with them also. I favor the old school bikes and look. Ugly bikes have a place with me!!! sorry I started this love in 1973.
Moose
have now owned two big dogs. 03 chopper and currently 04 bulldog. Have put over 20,000 miles on each with several 2000 mile trips! contrary to the nay sayers, they are very comfortable reliable bikes
i have a big dog 06 pitbull…sold my roadking to buy it…..and yes,i paid cash for it…..but it rides a hell of a lot better than my roadking did and thats the damn truth…and its a rigid and i am 60 years old…and i’ll ride that til i croak…..and its comfortable…..
bob, what you smokin, a hardtail that rides better than a touring bike, man that must be an awsome bike, how much has it decreased in value since you purchased it. Sell it and you wont have enough cash to purchase a moped
kevin kevin kevin,it hasn’t decreased a penny to me,and what i smoke,can’t tell ya,against the law,and why would i want to sell it,hell,if i want another bike i would go buy another one….and for gregory e. asswipe,can’t you afford a custome bike….HARLEY’S ARE WAY OVERSTATED,WAY OVER…..all of there bikes look like they ran into a brick wall thete so damn stubby looking
Talk about a custom bike, why then do all the Harley shops sell all the add on chrome and other crap to hang off your wantabe Harley. Just look at all the after market parts for Harley’s. It would take you another 10K to turn a Harley into a Big Dog, and you still wouldn’t have the power.
Review on the April 09 purchase of a New 08 Big Dog K-9, currently at 2,700 miles
About 2 ½ months ago the bike was taking back to Fort Worth Harley after I noticed the back wheel and sprocket had chrome peeling off. It was taken to Fort Worth so they could take pics and fight with Big Dog about who should cover the repairs. 2-3 weeks later FWH called to say that Big Dog had sent the wrong wheel and it would have to be sent back. Two weeks after that the bike was taken back to FWH to replace the wheel and sprocket. Once there it was determined the ‘new’ sprocket was in worse condition than the original and needed to be sent back to Big Dog. While in the shop it was also discovered the front fender was missing quite a bit of gold flake paint where it apparently wasn’t clear coated AND that the lining in the gas tank was coming loose, which meant it had to be replaced. 3-4 weeks later Big Dog sent the new fender and gas tank only for FWH to find a huge dent in the gas tank, which Big Dog blames UPS for, but our argument would be PACK YOUR PRODUCT!
Upon researching Big Dog, as a company, I ran across a blog by Cyril Huze that stated, “During a recent conversation I had with the upper management I was told that never before were their bikes as reliable as they are now with the 08 lineup,” which I find to be humors. I’ve owned more than one Harley Davidson and never had these kinds of issues. I stepped out and bought the “Flagship of the Big Dog Fleet”, per the Motorcycles USA article, 2008 Big Dog Motorcycles – First Look by Bryan Harley. Going on 2 ½ months of no motorcycle and while I sit here preparing to send my THIRD bike payment with no motorcycle I wonder what the rest of your ‘fleet’ offers. I’ve contacted my sales rep at FWH and discussed the trade in value because at this point I’ve missed the best riding weather of the season and had to *cough* ride my wife’s HDs*cough* in order to even be included in the group rides. My boss, and close friend, had been looking to buy a Big Dog Bull Dog #15 in Padre, Texas recently, but after watching the way my situation has been handled he quickly opted to look elsewhere.