VOL. 55 ISSUE 36 SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 P101
W
hen a company sits in
the crossfire of inter-
national trade wars,
continues to draw the ire of the
President of the United States,
and is threatened with boycotts,
it's logical to assume that com-
pany is facing a tough time. A
news search of the name "Harley-
Davidson" would reinforce that
assumption with a slew of head-
lines indicating, "declining sales,"
"H-D shares fall," "Harley riders
divided," and "CEO pushes back
on criticism." But a look beyond
the dire headlines to the front line
of the iconic American motorcycle
company—its hearty dealer net-
work—reveals a different picture,
one where business is seemingly
unaffected by the flurry of political
turmoil surrounding the brand.
Terry Rymer is the General
Manager and Co-Owner of Black
Hills Harley-Davidson in Rapid
City, South Dakota, the dealer-
ship that serves as a major hub of
the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The
meet, which took place in early
August, was depicted in national
headlines as a politically charged
gathering, where riders faced the
agonizing task of choosing sides
between the president and the
Bar and Shield brand. But Rymer
recalls a different Sturgis Motor-
cycle Rally, one that was centered
on the same familiar tenet—a pure
love of motorcycling.
"I've been riding motorcycles
my whole life," said Rymer. "We
all got into this because we love
to ride motorcycles. And come
hell or high water I'm going to ride
motorcycles. That's all there is to
it. I'm going to support racing. I'm
going to go to motorcycle events,
I'm going to promote the culture.
I'm going to embrace people and
try to get more people to ride
motorcycles, period. That's what
it's all about."
As for any negative effect on
business due to the tariff issue
and the president's tweets about
a boycott, Rymer maintains there
hasn't been any. In fact, "we've
had one of the most successful
years so far. Not just the Stur-
gis Motorcycle Rally, which was
very successful, but our 2018 in
general. We've seen good buyer
sentiment, our sales are good.
It's a little bit of a conversation
on Saturdays, but for the most
part people aren't bringing it up.
They're not saying, 'Oh gosh,
these things aren't made in
America any more.' Some people
are a little bit confused on what
the motivation is behind Harley-
Davidson's announcement, but for
A brand in ble?
The view inside e
of H-D's most prinent
dealships paints a
diffent picte.
Ty Rym of Black
Hills Hley-Davids
gives a tline
pspective the
effects of a brewing
ade w.
BY JEAN TURNER
TRAVIS RYMER/
HARLEY-DAVIDSON
RYMER
REASON
Black Hills
Harley-
Davidson
General
Manager Terry
Rymer rebuffs
the doom-and-
gloom rumors
regarding the
brand's future.
