In the $1980$ s$,$ a lapse in production quality and an increase in Japanese imports drove the Harley$-$Davidson motorcycle company to the brink of bankruptcy. The company's share of the U$.$S$.$ super$-$heavyweight market segment$-$motorcycles with engine capacity of $850$ cubic centimeters or more$-$had shrunk from over $40$ percent in the mid$-1970$s to $23$ percent in $1983.$ But by $1989,$ Harley$-$Davidson controlled some $65$ percent of this market segment. From a marketing perspective, what was the most likely first step in Harley$-$Davidson's resurgence?

performing a SWOT analysis to assess the firm's internal and external environments

selling new models of super heavyweight motorcycles in both the United States $($current$)$ and foreign $($new$)$ markets

repositioning its products in the minds of super heavyweight motorcycle buyers

improving the quality of its products and communicating this to motorcycle buyers

developing a new mission statement