Hey here's a little something, hot off the rumor mill!! Vectrix USA is in discussion to sell Harley-Davidson the Vectrix IP. Harley-Davidson's interest is obvious, it is rumoured that H-D has been offered the IP for somewhere in the region of $2 million. With this IP good ole Harley can qualify for a susbstatial R&D alternate energy money from Uncle Sam. The exact terms of the deal are not known, and the whole thing may not happen as the full extent of Vectrix financial problems may not be understood (or be fully explained) to Harley-Davidson's shareholders.
There will be those enthusiasts who will rejoice at these talks, and believe H-D is just the white Knight. But even though I would love to see Vectrix survive as a product of the legendary H-D, I am concerned that H-D may simply take the US Grant money and never produce another Vectrix, or worse, Vectrix financial woes destroy an aleady struggling H-D.
Either way, we live in very exciting times
Wow,Marcopolo to hear from you being optimistic with Vectrix, makes me feel very well!!
If you are optimistic we can burst of happiness!!!
Rag
I can't imagine a worse choice of motorcycle manufacturers for Vectrix to be working with, from the style and branding point of view. Can you imagine a Harley that is both silent and vibration-free? Can you imagine a Harley covered in painted plastic bodywork rather than exposed chrome? And, while Harley did produce a scooter in the early '60s, I'm pretty sure most Harley riders look down on scooters with scorn, even the high-performance maxi's.
From the point of view of H-D, buying the IP might be a good investment, but I don't see it working out well for all you current Vectrix owners.
My electric vehicle: CuMoCo C130 scooter.
Harley-Davidson, in my opinion, could actually be a good Owner of Vectrix becuase Harley clients wouldnt be "canibalised" by Vectrix and vice-versa. Or you want a Vectrix or you want a Harley, or you want both, but you wouldnt be having to choose between them, they are totally different worlds and dont compete with eachother.My experince in Harley-Davidson is through my Father and Brother who both have one. Ive been in Harley showrooms/serviceshops many times and ive never thought in buying one becuase of my everyday practical needs as my father and brother have never ever contemplated in buying a Vectrix for their pleasure long rides on winding roads.
It would also give Harley a foot in the (sure)future EV market as well as giving them the oportunity of "drinking water from another fountain" (diversify).
And if we could also have (their experience)in the "special" aura of ownership of a Harley, then we could be happy. They would surely give some focus on clients going back everytime to update and add accesories again and again.
Years ago (25 actually), I was riding around Wichita KS on a 1982 Yamaha Maxim 650. I eventually got killed on this bike but let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Anyway, up till this point I had no interaction with "bikers" and the like. Imagine my surprise when I had numerous guys (people on the street who I'd never met before) come up to tell me "I've got a Harley" with an attitude. It was kind of a weird thing to experience at the time. But I had to get used to it. I finally just learned to respond with "Well good for you."
A couple of years later (after the wreck), I moved down to Houston/Galveston area. I had just restored the Maxim and was riding it around. I noticed some more bikes at a shrimp shack restaurant and just pulled in and parked beside them... not really paying any attention to the surroundings. I went up to the outdoor counter to place my order and then took a seat at a picnic table. At that point I looked around and noticed that all the guys around me were hard-core bikers, not weekend wannabes. And my Yamaha was parked right by a row of Harleys and home-made bikes that all looked years old and like they'd been through hell. I sort of momentarily got that sick feeling in my stomach. But I recently returned from the dead and just decided that I didn't really give a damn, and then went back to waiting for my dinner.
So then one of the bikers got up for his table and walked over to my Maxim. The bikes were only about 10-15 feet away so all this was in the same area together. This guy looked like Grizzly Adams with an attitude. He walked around my bike, looking at it like he was trying to figure out what to do to it. I was sitting there thinking that I might not return from this death experience. I was trying to figure out how many I could hit with my helmet and which direction I'd run afterwards. So Grizzly Adams comes walking over to my table and it went like this:
Grizzly Adams: Is that your Yamaha over there?
Me: Yes it is
Grizzly Adams: How do you like it?
Me: I like it just fine.
Grizzly Adams: I had one just like it. I rode that damn bike everywhere. I called it Bambi and my Harley is Thumper.
What followed was one of the funnest nights I'd had in a long time. One of the biker guys was playing a banjo (no dualing banjos here) and the guys were just sitting around listening to it and talking about bikes. Many of these guys had owned Japanese bikes and some still did. Not a single one of them smarted off in any way about my "Jap bike". Could it be that bikers in Hoston are much more polite than bikers in Wichita? Well I have no idea. I guess I just thought there was a lot more crossing over than I realized.
About four years ago, I bought a Honda Valkyrie. Truly a beast of a bike. I expected to get some comments about it from Harley riders. To my surprise, the only comments that I've gotten were that it looked like a great bike. It seems that most of them respect that the Valkyrie is it's own design and doesn't try to replicate the Harley look of the V-Twin. Harley riders (traiditional ones) seem to be more insulted by copies than by other designs that are original and different.
Harley Davidson has almost gone out of business in the past. They have a reputation of doing whatever it takes to keep going. I could easily see them buying Vectrix and continuing to market the bikes under a different (subsidiary) name. While I think a lot of Harley riders wouldn't want the "Harley" name on a scooter, they probably wouldn't give a rat's behind if Harley owned a scooter company by another name.
And even if they didn't want to make the VX-1 scooter design any longer, they could easily create something more like the Enertia design. That would be a little more to their liking if they wanted to put the Harley name on it.
You are correct on them being purchased but not correct on the who.
Let me guess... The purchase should come from a solid business placed in an oiless country. BMW??...
I'm afraid it would be very unlikely for BMW to buy Vectrix. Vectrix spent a great deal of time and effort trying to persuade BMW to become involved, but BMW simply weren't interested. Nor is Piaggio. A Spanish/American Syndicate expressed interest, but lack the ability and money. I agree with the Harley fans, and I certainly do not agree that Harleys' market consists solely of outlaw bikers!
Now Onetime, I have no wish to offend you, or the "law firm" you work for, but I it is my experience that when an Iconic Company runs into trouble, all sorts of "white knights" show up. Invariably these white knights have little knowledge and usually far too little cash. These people all sound great, very passionate and substantial. Usually the due diligence process eliminates the time wasters, but even with very experienced people at the helm, corporate rescues seldom work. Your description of the legal ramifications of the corporate structure of Vectix shows very little understanding of the complexity of the situation. We all appreciate the need for confidentiality, but you're on a pretty good bet by not naming or supplying any details of your mysterious buyer, aren't you? If vectrix gets a buyer, you can simply say, "see that's who I meant!" Vectrix has all sorts of declared interest "buyers" , but most are simply time wasters.
marcopolo
Initials RMC there you go now I can say I told you so when it happens and is announced.
Ronn Motor Company.
No not even close you need to think of a company that currently is focused on only green transportation. No gas engines past present or future.
Well they tout themselves as a green company, but they do run ICE. It's the only one that comes up in Google for me and I'm already bored with this game. :)
Just wait about a week and there will be a press relese I promise i will post it here when I see it.
RMC = Really Mad Chipmunks?
or Radical Male Carpenters
or Really Mean Chihuahua
or, who cares?
BTW - I know H-D isn't it. But H-D is in the Dealer News today - they're going to idle their plants for 14 weeks. Not a good time to be spending $2M for a bunch of IP of questionable value...
Remember - the Vectrix was the first but it was no longer the best. The best is yet to come...
John H. Founder of Current Motor Company - opinions on this site belong to me; not to my employer
Remember: " 'lectric for local. diesel for distance" - JTH, Amp Bros || "No Gas.
This negative behavior is really not necessary. onlytime, thank you for any information.
As for the second part. I'll believe it when I see it.
That "negative behavior" was actually meant to be humor. Just trying to lighten things up. We've had dozens of posts from both camps - one saying "Vectrix will survive", the other saying "no they won't". This was something new. A guessing game to play.
Sorry about that.
John H. Founder of Current Motor Company - opinions on this site belong to me; not to my employer
Remember: " 'lectric for local. diesel for distance" - JTH, Amp Bros || "No Gas.
Actually, I liked the 'really mad chipmunks'! It appears RMC is actually a contender named in the bidding for Vectrix. However,little else is known about this group. A group of London shareholders claim that RMC, is a foil for the CEO Mike Boyle, who's grand design was to run the company down, so he could buy up the company assets cheaply. Others say it stands for Really Mad c...'s. (Nah, I just made that up!) Who knows? the list of potential suitors has now grown to over 16. But how many of these are serious? Well each will tell you that they are the chosen one. I guess it's like in the lyrics "two men say they're Jesus, one must be wrong! but does the mean the other is right?"
Meanwhile some jerk is offering brand new, Vectrix bikes on E-bay, delivered any where, for less than $2000 dollars each!! I contacted this reptile, and offered to buy all the bikes he had for sale, but failed to receive a reply.
marcopolo
Watch out for eBay sellers. Expensive deals have always the risk of fraud. By my experience, I advice to verify first if the feedback of the seller is positive and if it is related with the articles sold now. Then buy only if you can use VISA or other credit card well protected for illegal activities. Once I bought a camera from a Texas woman and received a milk can and old clothes. I had solid proofs because customs made a report of the box contents. Yet and unbelievably Paypal declined my dispute. My luck was that I had paid with VISA that returned immediatly my money and started an investigation that gave me the reason one month after... The worst method of paying and more dangerous is Western Union! Never use it in any circumstance! These are my tips...
I have discovered what is RMC..............................
Real Madrid Cash!!!!! They shourley have it!!!
Hahahahahahaha! :)
Sorry, I forgot to read the white text ;-)
"I know who it is but I'm not telling you." is not information, it's a guessing game.
R Martin Company?
Harley-Davidson formally withdraws from Vectrix bid.
The above is really no cause for rejoicing! This leaves no one with any real expertise or credibility interested in Vectrix, Equity funds and private consortium's, such as GDH etc.. are the only suitors left.
It's very doubtful that anyone else will be willing to put their hand up. This must be exceedingly worrying for the directors, some of whom must be concerned about the potential of litigation against themselves personally, for trading while insolvent.
I was hoping for an orderly disposal of Vectrix assets, and maybe a resurrection of the V1 as part of a major manufacturers product range. It would appear that this is not to be, and a messy bankruptcy will severely set back EV investment for some time.
As I said before the demise of Vectrix, is a damn shame, wrecked on the alter of one mans ego. Still, the potential is there, all it takes is time and sooner or later, an EV motorcycle will emerge successfully.
Oh, my goodness I forgot! How could I forget??? The withdrawal of little known Harley-Davidson, clears the way for the Really Mad Chipmunks !!
marcopolo
It would appear that the SEC has declined to allow the directors of Vectrix, any further extention of time. Vectrix Corp now has a time limit of 10 days to either file for bankruptcy, or prove solvency. This will really put presure on any potential White Knight. Since Harley Davidson have now officially withdrawn, this regretably leaves only the vultures, and shadowy consortiums (Spanish-american) and others with dubious funding and more dubious motives. In all likelihood the Vectrix assetts will be sold by open tender.
It is a sad end to what might have been, a great product and a great company.
We all eagerly awaited the outcome of ONETIMES claim, that within a week we would learn of the astonishing and exciting rescue of Vectrix by the Radically Mad Chipmonks, but alas 11 days have elapsed and no sign of Chip or Dale,!! C'mon guys we're losing heart!
marcopolo
Marcopolo is just a Pretender!
Martina Engels
Is it possible for you to specify the Spanish-American Company?
Hey Marco ,i dont know where you are getting your info buddy ,but i ahve never heard so much Cr@p and playground bitching in all my years in the automotive industry.
I think you need to take a step back and take a long look at what you are doing to this industry with your sniping ,sumising and doing a good product down.
This is typical of guys like you in the UK who see's someone trying to do well and succeed and putting them down and trying to destroy them .
you should channel your energies into doing something for your self instead of rubbishing everyone elses efforts.
Just very well informed
Guys like Marcopolo are the reason these new technologies struggle !!!!
Just very well informed
I totally disagree!
I didn't saw in you or any of the others new claimants, a rich past of contributions for this forum. It seems that you just appeared to attack Marcopolo... I wonder why?
Thats ok you have your opinion and I have mine and my reasons.
what you need to understand is Marco will enjoy watching Vectrix Fail even though he says he is a supporter.
When I first got my Vectrix I was Spun so much BS on the company and its growth and future.
I want this to succeed as if it doesn't the petrol heads and anti electric vehicle brigade will be again saying told you so.
I put a lot of my own money and time into helping this company and product and it just p**ses me off to read the smart and smug comments that immit from Mr Polo it as if he is enjoying watching the death throws of this company.
I bet he is one of these people who drives past auto wrecks on the highway slowley with a rubber neck.
I will put my factual and honest contributions in when the smoke of battle is cleared and i have the correct info and not a load of ficticious drivel.
Regards JR
Just very well informed
Rebel, Marcopolo just gave us his point of view, we have to respect it.
If he is right or wrong, we will have to wait. Also he has contributed to a discussion for a while now and you have only posted once and heading for his throat. Its not a very good start. You should expose your case and thoughts on the future of Vectrix first.
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