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Harley Not Dead After All.........

3K views 35 replies 12 participants last post by  FX4 
#1 ·
#2 ·
Sales in international markets rose 4.5 percent, with the strongest growth coming in China, where Harley recently switched to direct distribution. Europe, Middle East and Africa also saw strong growth, which helped offset the 0.5 percent decrease in sales in the U.S.
 
#6 ·
But the bikes ARE reasonably priced, especially with the technology packages built into them! The thing that turns off a lot of people is they don't have a good selection of mid-size bikes. Something bigger than the Street 750 or the Sportster 883, but smaller than the current line of 103 and up machines. And get rid of the annoying paint shaker rattle... I give them a lot of grief from time to time, especially when their new for this year is the 124 1/3 anniversary edition with a new shade of black, but they really build rock solid machines.
 
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#9 ·
Scrap you need to ride a Softail, hardly no shake and rides like an Indian as it has a counterbalance.


Their Dynas and Softails could be considered mid-size. Look at the Dyna Switchback vs a Touring Road King.


as for price, hey Harleys costs less than Indians, just sayin'
 
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#8 ·
I agree with Skrap. They've got a huge hole in the lineup. If you don't want a tiny bar hopper or a huge touring machine they've got nothing. The shake is something you get used to and it really only happens when you're stopped, so I don't think that's a big issue. I give Harley a ration every chance I get, but they build great machines and are a solid company, so no surprise here.
 
#12 · (Edited)
I've owned every model Harley they make. Three baggers (two Electra Glides and a Street Glide) three Sportsters, four different Dynas, and a Softail Deluxe. I can tell you that a Dyna or Softail is NOT a "mid-sized" motorcycle! I just traded my Street Glide for a new Low Rider, and Dyna's are 103", 6-speed, 800 lb. BIG motorcycles. I'm really not trying to bash anyone, but I'm just amazed at all the negative comments from people who have no clue about Harley Davidson motorcycles. BTW, they are priced very close to their metric equivalent bikes, and yes, they STILL hold their resale value better than metric. ;)


As far as the Softail line? I hated my Deluxe BECAUSE it was so smooth. I'm definitely not a fan of the "B" engine. The counter balancer robs power. Also, contrary to what most people think, the rubber mount Harleys shake at idle, but then smooth right out once you're rolling. The Softails are smooth at idle, but the faster you go the MORE they vibrate. Very un-Harley like, I couldn't wait to get rid of mine.
 
#13 ·
Honestly I am not surprised the MotorCo had a good Q1. My 2016 RGS is the best motorcycle I have ridden to date. As touring bikes go it does everything well. Handles great, stops great, has plenty of power, is comfortable, has more creature comforts than you can imagine. No they are not cheap but it is one heck of a motorcycle. I won't bat an eye about riding cross country on it.
 
#15 ·
"based on our analysis of Polk new motorcycle data from IHS Automotive, Harley-Davidson was the number one seller of new on-road motorcycles in the U.S. to young adults ages 18 to 34 for the 7th straight year."
Bashes the old geezer guide idea. I like the idea that we are not all grey hairs.
 
#24 ·
I wish I had the time to join you yesterday in the Highlands, Ron.... Unfortunately, I was racing mountain bikes at Brady's Run.... So I was on 2 wheel as well. Just with an organically powered Vtwin beneath me.
 
#28 ·
So why do the Harley stats have your panties all in a wad?

I'll tell you a couple of things, you want to see bunches of riders putting on serious miles go to the touring section of HD Forums. There are guys that routinely and not thinking about it put up well over 150k miles on their bikes. And I actually think the Rushmore bikes are going to make 200k or better. They are seriously improved over the prior generation. There are bunches of guys that own all kinds of BMW motorcycles along with their Harleys. Guys that can afford one can afford the the other. A comment I have seen over and over is "When I am touring the country I take the Harley, it's just more comfortable". Heck on any Saturday just eyeball evidence will tell you Harley is the brand of choice people are out riding. Just start lumping bikes into two categories, Harley and everything else. I'll bet the Harleys come up two to one or more over the everything else category. It's almost become weird lately, a few years ago you would probably see some kind of metric then a Harley, some kind of metric, then a Harley, ..., and so on. The last few years it just seems like when I am out touring around its Harley, Harley, Harley, something else, Harley, Harley, Harley, something else, ... I don't know why, but it appears those that have stayed with riding now that the fad is over frequently prefer the MotorCo's offerings over other brands. I know locally around where I live, the Pittsburgh area, we have seen a lot of metric bike dealerships close in the last few years. All of the Harley dealerships except one (Owner retired, MotorCo would not let the owner sell his Harley franchise) are open and doing well. Heck even European Motorcycles of Pittsburgh has dropped back to carrying just two brands, BMW & Ducati. They used to carry five or six other brands in addition to those two. It is what it is.
 
#29 ·
Nah. The Goldwing is the bike that touring riders buy when they grow out of the Harley fad. Between the ST1100-1300 and all the generations of Goldwings, I'm willing to put dollars to doughnuts that even with the population disadvantage, the Hondas have clocked more cumulative miles in smaller numbers than all the Harleys put together. When I think of Harley, I think of a middle aged accountant having a mid-life crisis and becoming a Wild Hog wannabe. But when I think of a Goldwing, I think of a rider who is serious about touring, doing so in absolute comfort and luxury, with a completely bomb proof bike underneath them. Harley riders spend too much time tightening loose exhaust bolts to do any serious riding anyway... :)
 
#30 · (Edited)
I don't see them on the Interstate like I have in the past John. I know a few people that own them but look at the touring crowd here in the NE, how many Harleys? I'll bet while out driving the country I'll see 20 or 30 Harley touring bikes to every GoldWing. Personally my guess on the decline of Honda motorcycles in the US is because they moved production to Japan. I think that cost them. Or maybe the design is just getting long in the tooth or maybe the GW is too car like. Or maybe all of the above. And actually it's the other way around, like BMW riders, tons of former GW riders over on HD Forums. A few people seem to go the other way but in general no. The interesting thing is with those guys you don't hear them badmouth the GWs or the BMWs. In general they will say good bike or great bike but...
 
#32 ·
When I was in the south two weeks ago, I saw two types of bikes. Harleys and Goldwings. There were about 10 Harleys for every Goldwing I saw, but the Harleys were all around town, short haul bikes and the Goldwings were all out on the interstate... They may be like a car, but they are hands down the most comfortable and capable touring bikes on the planet!
 
#33 · (Edited)
I don't know what to say John, I spent the last 10 years running between Naples and Pittsburgh. The number one bike by far I saw out touring on the Interstate is the Harley Davidson Ultra Classic. The second most common and a distant second at that was various Gold Wings and third were the BMW riders in full kit. The BMW riders almost always cracked me up in the dayglo Aerosticth suit and the slow lane. I mean what is up with that? I have a performance motorcycle and I am riding like a little old lady. Below that were the hardcore bikers riding whatever they could cobble together, old Harleys, various metrics, gear strapped to a sissy bar and they were seeing the country on the cheap. And last was the various sport touring bikes, always styling and flying by like I was standing still. Ten years of riding up and down the East coast those are my observations in general. I'll bet vehicle registrations back it up.
 
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