Harley Davidson Question

Apart from a Xr 750, how hard would it be for harley to build bike that was inspired by this(egli vincent). Could use the same frame and basic bits from the xr750 they should also build, dress up the engine differently, do some styling to suit and viola. Modern frame and suspension, lightish weight vtwin. The rest is all styling and the inspiration is out there.

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I agree with everything you say, however, I think another major problem, possibly the biggest one, is their dealer network simply isn't set up to sell to younger buyers, and frankly most younger buyers, even me, don't particularly find the typical Harley dealer all that enticing.

 

Interesting... in the western US, I typically see at least as many GSs as I do Harleys when staying out on trips. Maybe more GSs.

 

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My new bike is too nice to get tore up on the Alaskan Highway.

I still want to go!



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My understandign is that harley sales are 50% off their peak a decade otr tw

in the early 2000's they reportedly peaked at just over 400k sales per year globally. Last year was 178K sales. Looks like sales consistently decline each year.

 

This is certainly and issue. But as with lexus etc, you can have a separate show space dedicated to a different vibe/customer.
The strength of harely dealers is that they are everywhere, so if you tour with a Harley there is nationwide support, and if they offered other bikes, well there is likely to be a dealer near most.

 

I lived on the west coast for 58 years and that was never my experience. BMW was certainly popular but on long rides far more Harleys were seen by me out in open country away from metro areas..

 

Harley according to what I see has never topped 350,000. USA sales of automobiles are off about 25% from their highs too.

 

I was talking global Harley sales not just USA
Autos are off this year Harley been steadily declining for

 

So was I.

 

You said USA sales


Looked up global sales, hard to find but the number was +400k

in any event were at 178 global last year that’s still less that half either of our numbers, a 50+% decline over two decades of “professional” mamagement.
All while buying and destroying buell, dumping a fortune into mb and then bailing etc etc.

public company run by professional managers into the ground. Who”s going to make the changes, the board? They’re all public company fools, shareholders, are hundreds of thousands of shareholders going to effect change. Maybe large institutional investors have the heft, but they’re professional money managers, they’re going to hire more of the same.

imo with the right “leadership” Harley is the greatest opportunity out there.

Instead we’re getting weird bikes with key fobs which are apparently being more cheaply built with subpar bits. Dosent look good.

imo every bmw triumph and esp Indian sold could have been a Harley product. Every Ducati could have been a Harley owned buell or mv.

as Dale said they’re now a legacy company

remember when bmw was so stale, but they revitalized.

it’s pure management failure and we’re Getting more of the same

 

as Dale said legacy company
They’re sustaining some sales by selling
Trikes to customer as they get too old.

seriously I think there is a great market for classic Harley v twins and they should never abandon it. plenynof proper getting g into their 40s/50s will continue to like them. But it’s not a 400k units of sales, or even 200k apparently

they need to do new stuff too but know not how and have repeatedly failed at it.

 

I'm just telling you what I see now. 10 years ago might well have been different.

 

Why Millenials Don't Buy Harley Davidson Motorcycles

 

This could be another reason.

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Love it.

 

Awlrighty, you Harley guys need to stand up and bid.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-harley-davidson-softail-custom/

 

HD is making a 500?

 

Not yet, ship is still outside the harbor.


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That's not quite my type of bike, and I don't care who owned it.