Sorry, for the fans of the '18s, well welcome to the new world. The don't look like, feel like or sound like the Harleys I've ridden since forever. Yeah, I'm old so what?
I think Harley will be in deep, deep trouble within three years. Someone here mentioned the "New Coke" fiasco. This looks the same to me... YMMV
"The stiffer and quicker-responding single coil-over shock Softail chassis with improved suspension brings handling up to date. Gone and surely to be lamented by some is the twin-shock Dyna platform, but in a weak economy what counts is price control..." Translation: make it cheap...
I think on a tech spec sheet, the 2018's are superior in every way, regardless if it is comparing to Dynas or 2017 and prior Softails. The exception to this is the fact that they reduced fuel capacity on many models down to 3.5 gallons.
Sound wise, well the last bikes that sounded very traditional (translated awesome legendary) were the carbureted Evo's once they were well tuned.
Looks are subjective. Many of the 2018's look vastly different. There's a whole lot of people that hate the new look. There's a whole lot of people that like the new look. Touring models remained mostly the same. Sportster remained mostly the same. Softail Deluxe and Softail Slim don't look much different. Fat Bob obviously is a radical redesign. What I am getting at is previously alll the bikes appealed to traditionalists. The 2018's offer something to appeal to traditionalists while trying to offer something that appeals to non traditionalists.
The new frame is stiffer, which is what many have been begging for. The oil tank was moved away from the Rider, which is what many have been begging for the last few years. The forks have vast,y improved internals which is what everyone wanted. The rear suspension has more travel than previous Softail or previous dynas. That's always good. Softails have been traditionally lacking in this area and Dyna owners have been having to buy numerous addons to fix various handling anomalies. The FXR even handled better than Dynas.
The engine has more displacement, more torque, more horsepower, better throttle response and runs smoother than previous models. These are all things many people have been wanting for years.
It is laughable that people are crying about handling of the new bikes when they have yet to ride one.
Looks wise, sure. There are a number of dubious choices in styling, but purely on tech specs, these are the best bikes the motor company has ever produced.
Price wise, they aren't that much more than last year. Everything goes up in price. I used to fill up my bike with gas fir five bucks and my car for twenty. A gallon of milk sure costs more than it used to. Dollar menu has all but disappeared from fast food drive thru.
I also see a lot of envy, jealousy etc. on this forum with various comments and threads of "my bike just went up in value"
We are talking about a nonessential luxury item. We aren't talking about one of life's necessities.
What do you want? A government sponsored Affordable Bike Program?
Whining bitches. Get out and ride! I know I would if I could.
I think on a tech spec sheet, the 2018's are superior in every way, regardless if it is comparing to Dynas or 2017 and prior Softails. The exception to this is the fact that they reduced fuel capacity on many models down to 3.5 gallons.
Sound wise, well the last bikes that sounded very traditional (translated awesome legendary) were the carbureted Evo's once they were well tuned.
Looks are subjective. Many of the 2018's look vastly different. There's a whole lot of people that hate the new look. There's a whole lot of people that like the new look. Touring models remained mostly the same. Sportster remained mostly the same. Softail Deluxe and Softail Slim don't look much different. Fat Bob obviously is a radical redesign. What I am getting at is previously alll the bikes appealed to traditionalists. The 2018's offer something to appeal to traditionalists while trying to offer something that appeals to non traditionalists.
The new frame is stiffer, which is what many have been begging for. The oil tank was moved away from the Rider, which is what many have been begging for the last few years. The forks have vast,y improved internals which is what everyone wanted. The rear suspension has more travel than previous Softail or previous dynas. That's always good. Softails have been traditionally lacking in this area and Dyna owners have been having to buy numerous addons to fix various handling anomalies. The FXR even handled better than Dynas.
The engine has more displacement, more torque, more horsepower, better throttle response and runs smoother than previous models. These are all things many people have been wanting for years.
It is laughable that people are crying about handling of the new bikes when they have yet to ride one.
Looks wise, sure. There are a number of dubious choices in styling, but purely on tech specs, these are the best bikes the motor company has ever produced.
Price wise, they aren't that much more than last year. Everything goes up in price. I used to fill up my bike with gas fir five bucks and my car for twenty. A gallon of milk sure costs more than it used to. Dollar menu has all but disappeared from fast food drive thru.
I also see a lot of envy, jealousy etc. on this forum with various comments and threads of "my bike just went up in value"
We are talking about a nonessential luxury item. We aren't talking about one of life's necessities.
What do you want? A government sponsored Affordable Bike Program?
Whining bitches. Get out and ride! I know I would if I could.
Been looking for a new bike for some months. Nothing in the 2017 line of HD had "want" written on it or appealed to me. Just same old same old. Was on the verge of buying a Moto Guzzi when HD had their launch. Checked out the bikes and the Fat Bob just jumped out at me. Went to the local dealer who had one on display, checked it out and bought it on the spot without even a test ride.
This will be my 3rd HD. I guess at 61+ I'm considered "old" and no longer part of the "target" age group. As if I care.
Can't wait to take delivery and enjoy all the improvements they made. So what if the "sound" is not what it used to be. Don't need a loud bike anyway.
Growing up in a motorcycle town, I've been around bikes for a long time. I remember when HD came out with the Super Glide and a lot of people hated it. Belt Drive was going to be the end of Harley as we knew it. Softails were pretty well accepted early on. In fact, they were the thing to have in the early 90s. But tastes and styles change and if the MoCo wants to stay in business, it has to sell what the customer who is spending money wants. Evidently, those people want smooth, vibration free rides with lots of torque & power and so called handling. Btw, who buys a Harley if they want a bike that really handles? The Touring crowd wants whistles and bells, no heat, no wind, no vibration, plush seats & tons of luggage space, even though the majority think 75 miles is a long ride. I don't get it, but if that's what they want, its up to the factory to give it to them. They have no obligation to old farts like me, but do have an obligation to stockholders. As they say, "Its jes biznez"
I came to HD from the world of Goldwings. One of the things that appeals to me about my Harley is what some people refer to as "the Harley heart beat." My 2011 Road Glide Ultra is not as smooth, powerful, fast or plush as a new GL1800 but that's OK. I was at the Harley dealer the other day and they were desperately trying to trade me into a new bike. The salesman fired up a new 2017 Road King and said, "Feel that. Isn't that smooth?" And it was smooth too. My bike shakes like a washing machine at idle and I like that. I guess I'm just weird but if I wanted the ultimate smooth, powerful and plush touring machine I'd buy another Goldwing.
Sorry, for the fans of the '18s, well welcome to the new world. The don't look like, feel like or sound like the Harleys I've ridden since forever. Yeah, I'm old so what?
I think Harley will be in deep, deep trouble within three years.
if they do nothing but crank out the same models they've been selling for 20 years, then they'll just be in deep, deep trouble within 5-10 years when the Boomers can no longer ride.
If these new bikes are a misfire, then they might be in trouble.
If they stand pat and change nothing, they will be in trouble.
Originally Posted by blackxpress
I came to HD from the world of Goldwings. One of the things that appeals to me about my Harley is what some people refer to as "the Harley heart beat." My 2011 Road Glide Ultra is not as smooth, powerful, fast or plush as a new GL1800 but that's OK. I was at the Harley dealer the other day and they were desperately trying to trade me into a new bike. The salesman fired up a new 2017 Road King and said, "Feel that. Isn't that smooth?" And it was smooth too. My bike shakes like a washing machine at idle and I like that. I guess I'm just weird but if I wanted the ultimate smooth, powerful and plush touring machine I'd buy another Goldwing.
I'm neither here nor there on the idle shake of my Dyna. But I hate the vision-blurring boom at 3100 rpm which makes highway cruising tiring.
I also think in the near future they will see a large decline in sales over this new frame. You can't keep pissing off your core base with changes they don't want (66% against 33% in favor) and expect otherwise. They still haven't recovered from the Mount Gushmore fiasco, sales have been in decline the last 3 years. Of course they will blame it on the economy, like always instead of admitting failure with their designs. It's not the economy, build a bike people like and they will buy it.
I think sales will fall off fast after those who have to have a new one, no matter what get theirs bought up.
Odd, when the older crowd doesn't like what they're building it's called pissing and moaning but when the new converts **** and moan about how they want the MOCO to build them a bike just like the ricer they sold it's just "thoughtful suggestions".
I'm not against change if I think it's something that needed improved. I was looking forward to the new common core frame but I thought it would be a (traditional) swingarm design. I was hoping for a new Road King that looked good without bags, like the old FLH. Something that resembled the Switchback but with a ride like the Road King and the new M-8 engine.
To me, it wouldn't matter if the Softails were putting out 200 hp to the ground, out the door. I still wouldn't be interested. I have a rigid shovel I ride daily, so I have no need for a fake hardtail. JMHO
Last edited by TroubleHead Fred; 09-01-2017 at 11:48 AM.
Whaaaaaaaaaa, another thread in the sea of threads about the new bikes. Like I said in one of them, if HD keeps making the same bike, catering to you old farts, they won't generate any interest from the younger people looking to get into riding. If they start changing **** up, while it may not make people flock through the doors today or tomorrow, it's a better plan at creating interest for the people looking to buy a bike in a few years. That's what HD needs when you baby boomers die off.
08-28-2017 | 11:50 PM
Harleysaki...
