"One potential female buyer was also put off by Harley promotions featuring skimpily clad women."

Yup! It also creates issues for existing customers; when the wives of some Harley-Davidson buyers see it, and are put off by it. It's not a deal breaker, in my case, but it's just one more unnecessary hurdle that I have to clear in order to buy the darn bike. YMMV

 

+bwana1 This f-up economy doesn't help either.

 

I've never understood that hurdle. My woman knows that Im looking at T&A all day, every day, every chance I get. Hell, she points it out to me. Who are these prudes?

 

Never gonna happen. Harley honestly is not big enough to compete in that market with the yams, kaws and Honda's. I was REALLY surprised at the introduction of the street 500 and 750 lines. I wonder how long did the concept of the Harley street line float around before the big wigs pulled that trigger.

 

Man you are 100% dead on with this. I wonder if the softail and dyna's are even turning a profit for Harley. EVERYONE is getting touring models. The rushmores have helped this a too. Even if someone cannot afford a rushmore (people traded in their older pre rushmore bikes), they get an older used pre rushmore Harley touring bike. And honestly the prices for the pre rushmore models are down a bit.

 

Dropped by Dealer on Sat to pick up my bike (overdue recall) they were having one of their Saturday galas with burgers and such --- probably about 100 +/- attendees --- don't think there was anyone under 45 unless it was a "girlfriend" of sorts --- pretty amazing all the gray hair --- mine included -- just say'n

 

...And don't think they haven't trained the sales staff to recognize this. Just let an older dude like myself walk into a dealership and watch the sales people start stumbling over one another to get to you.

 

My fiance is from the bible belt and I ran into the same issue when I went in to buy my new road king in December. When we were in the dealership a scantly clad elf came up and extended an invitation to their XXX Naughty Christmas party citing it was male only. Needless to say that didn't go over very well and we left. I had to explain that it was part of the culture but there is also a blessing of the bikes and other family stuff that goes on.

The rallies/runs/whatever I don't care what goes on but I question doing it out of the dealerships.

 

Several years ago Keith Wandell dumped Buell and MV Augusta to "concentrate on our core customers". I think that was a mistake.

 

WE left or you were told that WE are leaving.