 Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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OP
Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 922
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 922 |
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Re: Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284 |
I can't see the sense in this acquisition from Harley's point of view. But I've long pined for an MV Agusta F-4; maybe Willy G. felt the same way about the whole co. 
Strangler
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Re: Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,012
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,012 |
Quote:
I can't see the sense in this acquisition from Harley's point of view. But I've long pined for an MV Agusta F-4; maybe Willy G. felt the same way about the whole co.
funny you should mention that, Paul.
while Blue is laid up, at a friend's house, with a burnt out front brake, guess what i rode home this morning...
HD does in a day, what MV Agusta does in a year. if the buy out means the difference between MV going under or staying afloat, it will probably be a good thing. a good number of folks in the MV forum "community" seem to have positive things to say about this. i think it is a better route, than say Ducati, buying out MV.
HD had their share ( or at least their hand in) of the Italian market, way back, with the Aermacci.
allhailthefrenchpress
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Re: Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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OP
Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote from elsewhere:
"Back in the 1970s Harley owned the Italian Aermacchi motorcycle company so Milwaukee could have a line of little bikes. Aermacchi two-stroke twins badged as Harleys even won three 250cc GP road racing titles and a 350 championship. Then, the Castiglioni brothers bought Aermacchi from Harley in 1978 and created the Cagiva deal, which saved Ducati, eventually created the new MV Agusta and more. So now they are going full-circle with Harley buying MV and Cagiva. Give it some time. You never know where things like this lead."
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,210 |
Its good to hear an american company is "buying" instead of selling. Good for them
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Re: Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32 |
Now what HD is trying to achieve buying a "boutique" manufacturer beats me.
Looks like another in a series of Claudio Catiglioni's OPM tricks.
This guy amazes me.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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OP
Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
Now what HD is trying to achieve buying a "boutique" manufacturer beats me.
I was thinking after the XR1200 release they might be trying to reach a new audience.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Oooh! The XR1200. Now I like THAT Harley!!! And I have to say, at least this news is about an american company acquiring a foreign concern and not the other way around, which is somethin' you're not hearin' much of nowdays, ya know. But, all things considered, I think I'd rather own an old mid-1970s MV Agusta America with gear-driven DOHCs more than a modern one.   (but then again, I'm rather "Old School" ya know)
Last edited by Dwight; 07/14/2008 7:42 PM.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,018
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,018 |
With nascar taking over ama superbike racing next year. Maybe harley is thinking of making a real attempt at road racing again.
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Re: Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,518 Likes: 32 |
Quote:
And I have to say, at least this news is about an american company acquiring a foreign concern and not the other way around, which is somethin' you're not hearin' much of nowdays, ya know.
A little personal history here.
I first started riding in '77. My mentor at the time was an Italian gent who was the Managing-Director of FIAT in Greece (he lived diagonally behind me and his son was my best friend for my teenage years).
Prior to him having this job he was the chief mechanic for Giacomo Agostini throughout the last years of his racing stint at MV Agusta.
So, this guy being a total MV and AGO fanatic, he got both his son and myself hooked/brainwashed.
We would spend endless weekends watching his collection of 8mm (I think) films of all the Ago races. He would go into big detail concerning general technique and cornering strategies and so on ...
Addition/Edit.
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Every Saturday he would tinker with his very own MV 500cc racer.
He would take it out for a few test spins and back in the seperate garage it went.
Did I ever get to ride it ... nope! (neither did his son).
Did I drool ... Yep!
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Needless to say, I grew up being both and AGO and an MV worshipper.
So, after all these years of MV religion, I think that it's going to be very strange for me to adjust to MV being HD-owned (a totally different religion).
Quote:
But, all things considered, I think I'd rather own an old mid-1970s MV Augusta America with gear-driven DOHCs more than a modern one.
... and that rasping(sp?) sound !!!
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: Harley to buy MV Agusta
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Yeah Thanassis! Kind'a raspy, mixed with that straight-cut gear "hissing/shhhh" sound! There's a fellow by the name of Yoshi Kosaka who has owned and operated one of more notable restoration/custom shops around SoCal for many years now... http://garagecompany.com...and he often rides his beauty of an MV America to vintage rallies. And whenever he's riding in, you know it's him without even lookin' up, as there's nothin' as sweet and distinctive a sound as those old MVs. (BTW...great story there!)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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