[jyl]

Harley has been cutting costs hard in past year, after a year in denial. They've reduced mfg capacity, laid off workers, now getting rid of money-losing businesses. Stock went from $70 to $12, net debt from zero to $3.6BN, sales are only down 10% from peak but profit is down by over 1/3. Heavyweight motorcycle market is weak, Victory also feeling it. Buell is nothing, financially speaking, sales $100MM/yr, barely 1/3 of what Harley sells in "Harley"-branded clothes and other merchandise. I don't have Buell profit info but I doubt it has ever made any meaningful money for Harley.