Motorcycle

The major players are: Harley-Davidson was the major American motorcycle manufacturer and dominated the U.S. heavyweight (>650cc) motorcycle market. Honda has 5.4 million bikes produced (including scooters and small displacement bikes), Honda was the world largest manufacturer of motorcycles. The company shared technology, engineering capabilities, marketing, and distribution know-how with its automobile division. BMW bikes pioneered technical innovations like advanced suspension systems, fuel injection, and anti-lock brakes, thus giving the firm a reputation for exceptional quality, safety, reliability, and comfort. Triumph was one of the largest brand in motorcycles industry in the 1950’s, although forced to liquidate in 1983 it turnaround in 1991 they have thunderbird notably virtually indestructible bikes. Yamaha it sells about 85% of its motorcycles outside Japan. Suzuki sold its motorcycles on the U.S. since 1963 and had a reputation of reliability. Kawasaki introduced four new models in 2001 and made significant changes to key models in its Vulcan cruiser line – which was named “Cruiser of the Year” by Motorcycle Tour & Cruiser magazine.

Generic categories of primary activities: Inbound logistics includes receiving, storing, and disseminating inputs. Operations include transforming inputs into final products. Outbound logistics includes collecting, storing and physically distributing products to buyers. Marketing and sales is providing a means by which buyers can purchase the product. Service is providing service to enhance or maintain the value of products.

There are four types of support activities: Procurement is purchasing of inputs to facilitate all other activities. Technology development is the improvement of technologies throughout the firm. Human Resource Management is the management of personnel throughout the organization. Firm Infrastructure is consists of all general activities that support the entire value chain.