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Original Article:
Ten Questions with Piaggio's VP of Design, Miguel Galluzzi

Please discuss the Motorcycle.com article Ten Questions with Piaggio's VP of Design, Miguel Galluzzi in our Motorcycle Forums below. Use the reply button to let others know your comments or feedback on the article. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, along with your thoughts and personal opinions on the bikes and products we have tested.

 

[jmdonald]

Business Model

Design is identity. If they combine that idea with a smaller volume high product quality business model they stand to be very successful. I like the California.

 

[The Spaceman]

The guy has an attitude, no doubt. And that's not a criticism; I think it's based on a conviction that his company has a cultural depth that puts it above the competition. He certainly has the credentials; that list of bikes he designed is impressive.

And he provided my new sig line, which I think fits in with my new bike's design philosophy nicely.

BTW: I wonder if he ever walks into a place and says: "Hi. I'm Galluzzi from Guzzi."

 

[Buzglyd]

For the hipster generation, the more organic, traditional looking bikes are what sells.

Harley is killing it with the younger crowd.

I guess all the know-it-alls from a few years ago were wrong again.

 

[schizuki]

For the hipster generation, the more organic, traditional looking bikes are what sells.

Harley is killing it with the younger crowd.

Do hipsters shave with safety razors? Because I just bought one and I dig it.

 

[Kevin_Duke]

The guy has an attitude, no doubt. And that's not a criticism; I think it's based on a conviction that his company has a cultural depth that puts it above the competition. He certainly has the credentials; that list of bikes he designed is impressive.

And he provided my new sig line, which I think fits in with my new bike's design philosophy nicely.

BTW: I wonder if he ever walks into a place and says: "Hi. I'm Galluzzi from Guzzi."

I would if I could!

 

[Buzglyd]

I just returned from a trip to the East Coast and upon landing, drove to the Italian dealer downtown.

They had a new Touring Guzzi on display. It's a nice bike but didn't make me want to throw down 18 grand. The way the gas tank is finished is a little odd with those removable panels on the exterior. There is a large gap running down both sides of the tank.

I don't think I'd call the fit and finish Harley quality.

Calluzzi is right about the "cruiser" thing. Harleys are Harleys.

Cruiser is a BS term ginned up by the moto press to refer to a Japanese Harley copy. Most likely marching orders from the Big Four advertisers.

 

[Kevin_Duke]

I just returned from a trip to the East Coast and upon landing, drove to the Italian dealer downtown.

They had a new Touring Guzzi on display. It's a nice bike but didn't make me want to throw down 18 grand. The way the gas tank is finished is a little odd with those removable panels on the exterior. There is a large gap running down both sides of the tank.

I don't think I'd call the fit and finish Harley quality.

Calluzzi is right about the "cruiser" thing. Harleys are Harleys.

Cruiser is a BS term ginned up by the moto press to refer to a Japanese Harley copy. Most likely marching orders from the Big Four advertisers.

Are you trolling or just not thinking about human nature to categorize everything.

 

[Buzglyd]

Are you trolling or just not thinking about human nature to categorize everything.

Me? Troll?

You know I just say what's on my mind.

Interesting article and I'm looking forward to a test ride. I'd be more likely to put the base model in the garage since I have the BMW for touring purposes.

 

[Kevin_Duke]

Me? Troll?

You know I just say what's on my mind.

Interesting article and I'm looking forward to a test ride. I'd be more likely to put the base model in the garage since I have the BMW for touring purposes.

I'm interested in hearing what you think of it. It seems to be a unique fit for you.

 

[The Spaceman]

For the hipster generation, the more organic, traditional looking bikes are what sells.

Harley is killing it with the younger crowd.

I guess all the know-it-alls from a few years ago were wrong again.

Not really. If you look at the market data you'll see that HD only started making progress with young, female, and minority riders "a few years ago.". Luckily for their stockholders, HD finally figured out what the know-it-alls had been saying for years before then, and started marketing to those segments.

And BTW, most HD sales to your cherished yoots are used bikes, because they still don't have any entry-level products that 18-24 y/os can afford.

 

[Buzglyd]

Not really. If you look at the market data you'll see that HD only started making progress with young, female, and minority riders "a few years ago.". Luckily for their stockholders, HD finally figured out what the know-it-alls had been saying for years before then, and started marketing to those segments.

And BTW, most HD sales to your cherished yoots are used bikes, because they still don't have any entry-level products that 18-24 y/os can afford.

Who has entry level products that an 18 year old can afford?

This from H-Ds quarterly earnings report:

Harley-Davidson recently reported newly available U.S. demographic market share data for 2012 new street motorcycle sales (all engine displacements) showing the Company continued its market leadership in the U.S. among young adults 18-34, women, African-Americans, Hispanics and Caucasian men 35-plus. According to the Polk data, in 2012, for the fifth straight year, Harley-Davidson was the number one seller of new street motorcycles in the U.S. to each of these groups. Sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the U.S. grew in each of these demographic segments last year, and Harley-Davidson sold nearly twice as many new street motorcycles to young adults as its nearest competitor in 2012.

 

[Buzglyd]

I'm interested in hearing what you think of it. It seems to be a unique fit for you.

Yes but it would be hard to pull the trigger with a Tuono at the same dealer staring me in the face!

 

[Kevin_Duke]

Yes but it would be hard to pull the trigger with a Tuono at the same dealer staring me in the face!

You must be one of just a few people cross-shopping a Cali and a Tuono!

 

[Buzglyd]

You must be one of just a few people cross-shopping a Cali and a Tuono!

I created my own category of cool Italian bikes I want.

 

[sarnali2]

Ken my friend you need to get out more often. One of the largest MC's around here is Buffalo Soldiers, followed by Magic Wheels, both almost exclusivly black and HD only.

 

[seruzawa]

Who has entry level products that an 18 year old can afford?

This from H-Ds quarterly earnings report:

Harley-Davidson recently reported newly available U.S. demographic market share data for 2012 new street motorcycle sales (all engine displacements) showing the Company continued its market leadership in the U.S. among young adults 18-34, women, African-Americans, Hispanics and Caucasian men 35-plus. According to the Polk data, in 2012, for the fifth straight year, Harley-Davidson was the number one seller of new street motorcycles in the U.S. to each of these groups. Sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles in the U.S. grew in each of these demographic segments last year, and Harley-Davidson sold nearly twice as many new street motorcycles to young adults as its nearest competitor in 2012.

So you are saying that Kook and Moke and all the others who thought they knew the future were wrong?

All you had to do was to step into an HD dealership to see how wrong they were. There were always a lot of young guys in there. The guys who thought the future was sportbikes were only consulting their prejudices. Any visit to an HD dealership, even during the darkest economic days recently, would have revealed an entirely different reality.... the reality that exists, not some bigotted opinion.

 

[The Spaceman]

Jesus I wish you guys would READ what's posted before you start responding to it. I didn't say young, minority, and women riders aren't on HDs. I said HD didn't start marketing to them until a few years ago. Get the difference?

Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Yamaha, KTM, almost every make EXCEPT HD is rolling out 250-500 cc bikes to go after new, young buyers. At half the price of the only bike HD has that even remotely looks like an entry level bike, the XL. Keep in mind that all makes lost half or more of their revenue after 08. HD may be finally opening a new market now, but it'll be these new, high value vs. cost bikes that restart the market growth. If anything can.

 

[schizuki]

Jesus I wish you guys would READ what's posted before you start responding to it. I didn't say young, minority, and women riders aren't on HDs. I said HD didn't start marketing to them until a few years ago. Get the difference?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you criticizing Harley for the same parts-bin engineering and black-out treatments that seem to be what's attracting these riders?

 

[The Spaceman]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't you criticizing Harley for the same parts-bin engineering and black-out treatments that seem to be what's attracting these riders?

Damn right I do. I also ctitcize them for be so financially irresponsible that after two decades of record sales they had to take a taxpayer bailout in 08. And for having their asses handed to them in the MV Agusta deal. And for screwing Eric Buell and all the Buell division customers and employees.

HD succeeds in spite of their leadership, not because of it.