Using the 2019 HOG Touring Handbook, I compiled the list of HD dealers who are no longer in business as an HD dealer as of today's date. My results show that HD shrunk their dealer footprint by approximately 69 former bike selling dealers. The count is inexact as it can be difficult to ascertain whether a particular dealership went out of business prior to the Rewire business plan due to other reasons. One dealership burned down in a fire in Medford, Oregon, another one was devastated in a hurricane in TX, and one in Traverse City, Michigan, has an indeterminate HD franchise status. Also, some of the larger multi-site franchise owners are relatively dynamic in both closing and opening dealerships. If you think I've made an error of omission (did I leave out a dealer you know closed) or commission (did I claim a dealer is no longer an HD dealer but still is) - let me know and I'll update my file and re-post the correction.

A few dealerships who surrendered their HD franchise are still open for business under other brand banners as powersports dealers and servicer's of all makes and models. Their inclusion in the Closed list is simply a reflection of their HD franchise status - not their general business status.

The closure of dealers does not appear to have been driven by branding compliance as there are still many HD dealerships in humble facilities that are co-branded with Honda, Yamaha, Polaris, and other manufacturers. This surprised me as I assumed HD would have forced these dealers out long ago. Clearly HD does not have the legal means with these franchisees to force them to comply with their current requirements. Also, many of the closed dealerships appear to have been brand compliant as HD-only dealers in relatively new and visually appealing facilities.

HD still has over 600 dealers in the USA after the closure of the 69 in the list below. Every state still has at least one dealership and many have no shortage suggesting that more may be still be on the chopping block.

This list does not include temporary or permanent closure of "souvenir" stores, of which there are somewhere around 40-50 that sell HD branded clothing and accessories. Most souvenir stores are easily identified by their location (major airports, tourist locations, and casinos) but I may not have identified all of them accurately.




I put my 2017 Road King away for winter with nearly 10,000 miles on it for the season, including a 2,400 mile ride to Wyoming. The complete ride report is at the link but here is a sampling of photos.

Wyoming 2020 Ride Report

 

Wow, good luck on I-70 through Kansas. Nothing in Hays or Salina now?

 

You can add Mischler's HD in Beaver Dam WI in a couple weeks.

 

Sadly yes. Looks like I purchased the last new bike they will ever sell last week. We will miss them. HD wants to close between 100 and 200 dealerships. Goal is to force a rise in prices.

 

Sadly yes. Looks like I purchased the last new bike they will ever sell last week. We will miss them. HD wants to close between 100 and 200 dealerships. Goal is to force a rise in prices.

 

Thanks for the update. I'll put them on the list after the holidays.

I suspect they'll get to 100 closures, but I don't think they'll easily get to 200 closures. There just aren't enough small dealers in the Rust Belt and they've already taken out the small dealers outside the Rust Belt.

 

Racine Harley was bought out by House of Harley in Greenfield and merged with that dealership.

Boardtracker HD, Janesville, and Iron Town HD, in New Berlin, lost their franchises because their ownership cheated Harley Davidson Credit out of money.

McHenry Harley was a satellite store of Woodstock Harley.

Chicago Harley in Glenview moved to Rosemont.

 

Boardtrackers in Janesville, WI was sued by HD for owing them 6 million dollars. Al Muth, in Black River Falls, WI closed after his only child died in a racing accident. There were probably other reasons too, but he was a very popular dealer, with a great reputation.

 

You can add one that the list missed.
Big Spring Harley Davidson. In Big Spring Texas.
Family owned for 91 years by the Walkers.

One of the guys I ride with put together a visit to show support for them.
I didn't think to count how many showed up but it was a lot.
They sure appreciated it as many of us appreciated them for many years.
I could call Kay for some of the most of the wall stuff and she always came though. Audio cable for a 10 UC 3 dealers near my son , all said N/A by itself Kay found it

WP

 

My guess would be that Harley does have the ability to revoke franchises regarding Harley only retail locations or the configuration of their building..Harley has made an exception to their requirements to those dealers probably based on population density.

Harley's dealer contracts typically expire at the end of the calendar your but they made an announcement in October that will extend contracts for an additional six months so some of the rumored closures may or may not make it through what's left of this year.