Why is Harley riding on a decline?
#871
I don't tour but i do put around 8-10k a year on my bike just doing what i like. Everyday rider not a weekend warrior like the MAJORITY of Harley riders are. My bike is my primary mode of transportation from May till snow. I do get my cage out on wash outs or situations where i need to carry things in the bed of it. I live in heartland Harley Davidson country IE the midwest and i'll let you know 95% of every motorcycle on the road is yeah a Harley Davidson.
#872
Of course they did, just a bunch of pussies at the top too scared to make a bold move.
Honda contributed a lot to the 2 wheel world with the Grom. Non-riders are less fearful to throw a leg over it and it's a gateway to larger motorcycles. Not only is the bike affordable but incredibly cheap to tinker with the massive aftermarket support. I just slapped on a big bore kit on mine and taught 2 new riders the inside out of engines and tuning. Kids who love customizing PCs can get onboard with this.
LMAO, what?
But all of that massive torque though...oh wait I forgot the engine implodes if it revs pass 3k RPMs.
Honda contributed a lot to the 2 wheel world with the Grom. Non-riders are less fearful to throw a leg over it and it's a gateway to larger motorcycles. Not only is the bike affordable but incredibly cheap to tinker with the massive aftermarket support. I just slapped on a big bore kit on mine and taught 2 new riders the inside out of engines and tuning. Kids who love customizing PCs can get onboard with this.
LMAO, what?
But all of that massive torque though...oh wait I forgot the engine implodes if it revs pass 3k RPMs.
Tons of kids on Groms. Guess what? they won't be when they hit 45, 50. HD's market has, and always will be, the 40+ crowd. I think it would be a mistake for Harley to come out with off road, dual sports, and tiny grom sized bikes. You don't see Ferrari coming out with small cheap SUV's or Mercedes trying to compete with Ford with trucks. They stay in their lane and are tops at what they produce. HD needs to be sure and kick Goldwing and other cruiser ***. They could use some improvement in some areas for sure, but introducing entirely new lines marketed at young new riders is not what they do best or should do.
Last edited by LonestarXL; 06-16-2018 at 12:40 PM.
#873
Ironically my RGS cost damn near as much as my wife new 2014 Ford Focus and my 2018 Honda HRV minus 3k or so. It kinda blows my mind the folks that spend the big money and only get them out on a weekend. Why buy a bike if your not going to ride it every chance you get. They might as well bought a boat which would of cost them less than my bike. I saw one of those Aprilla bikes mentioned in a post above and didn't even know what it was lol. I always loved the bike, the sound, even the shake that makes HD what it is.
Young kids don't have 21k+ money to throw away on a pleasure toy any more than young kids buy Gold Wings. My bike isn't the fastest or lightest but it is the coolest in my eyes and well. It's not perfect by any means but it is what it is. Nobody cares when a crotch rocket goes by or a Ducati or even a Hayabusa . They all look when they hear a Harley coming for what ever reason and maybe thats why those of us that choose to ride the baddest machines on the road do so. Harley will never price itself to the cheap because it doesnt have to. Their will always be a Harley market much like there will always be a market for Lincolns, Cadillacs, Porshes , and all high end , high dollar machines . Their aint a sport bagger on the road that can come close to the Street Glide bar none. I don't see a decline in HD riders at all around here. Again seeing anything other is like a UFO sighting lol.
I went for an early AM ride and probably saw 50 HD's between 8-9am . Never saw another make.
#874
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Yamaharley (06-17-2018)
#875
#876
The MoCo has taken the Harley-ness out of their newest bikes. I don't believe they offer a superior motorcycle compared to the competition. Look at their touring bikes. Who can claim that the Harley Davidson motorcycles of today are better than what's available from the competition? What makes them better? They're not cheap. They don't have the tech. They're not light. They're not the most comfortable.
Look at the new M8 Softails. They may be the "best" Harley Davidson motorcycles, but they're not the best motorcycles on the market. They also lost their soul along the way.
Also, the entire motorcycle industry is having issues globally. It's not increasing. There are more great motorcycles available today than ever before.
AND, Harley Davidsons are quite expensive compared to the competition. Without offering something in return for that premium.
Look at the new M8 Softails. They may be the "best" Harley Davidson motorcycles, but they're not the best motorcycles on the market. They also lost their soul along the way.
Also, the entire motorcycle industry is having issues globally. It's not increasing. There are more great motorcycles available today than ever before.
AND, Harley Davidsons are quite expensive compared to the competition. Without offering something in return for that premium.
My son is 23 and has no interest in bikes. Neither do his friends, When I was his age, I was riding a naked GL1000 with a Windjammer fairing which was my first bike. Then a few crotch ro ckets before settling on an FXR which I rode a few years and then sold for stupid money, (Even then I wasn't a dyed in the wool Harley rider). Still not.
I rode a VT1100 from San Diego to NJ without issue, My favorite bike was a Yamaha 1300 which I sold to buy another Harley. This time discounted. Harleys are too expensive now to take a chance on getting one with issues,
#877
#878
I live on a fairly busy street, and at least 90 % of the bikes that ride past here are Harleys. I don't see any decline in riding Harleys, or owning Harleys, but I do see a decline in the quality of the replies to this thread. It is pulling the closet haters out of the woodwork!! I personally think it has run it's course, and needs to be closed!!
#879
Yeah I am not into the lifestyle thing. I had my bike at the dealer for a couple items after my purchase, and I got HD surveys via email. One of the questions asked something about feeling part of the community, or something like that. That's a thought that never entered my mind. I think it's cool that bikers in general will wave and have an immediate bond of sorts with other riders, but I don't care what brand someone is riding.
#880
I live on a fairly busy street, and at least 90 % of the bikes that ride past here are Harleys. I don't see any decline in riding Harleys, or owning Harleys, but I do see a decline in the quality of the replies to this thread. It is pulling the closet haters out of the woodwork!! I personally think it has run it's course, and needs to be closed!!