I dont know where in the 80`s you were buying HD`s at 3x the price, People didnt want harleys in the 80`s, they were buying the big 4 japanese bikes, AMF left a bitter taste in many a mouth but the story hadnt been told in full yet, 1000 sportsters were going for $1000 bucks, Electra glides were thought of as Boat anchors & if you had a 79 anything it was deemed a bastard year, Evo`s had a hard sell for a long time & it wasnt until the late 80`s when they started to move decently.

But I agree on the weight & Power!!!!!!

 

[QUOTE=Keithhu;21131453]Seems a rather simplistic way of looking at a relatively complicated subject, at least to a lot of other folks. That's fine, I have no problem with that, but I just wonder why you bother to make the effort to respond at all if this is just "childish drama" to you.

Actually, come to think of it, I don't wonder. So, no need to respond.

 

No it's not and never has been. In capitalism, if a company fails and goes bankrupt, so be it. Make the changes necessary or not. Tax payers should NOT reward bad business behavior. That's not and never was what capitalism is based on.

 

[QUOTE=Keithhu;21131472][QUOTE=mikefmoto;21131461]Been saying that for years. I guess the ones bitching weren't buying bikes in the 70's and 80's and some have short memories.

 

The recipients of the gov't money view it as capitalism. They use semantics to justify the lifeline.

 

[QUOTE=AJSHOVEL;21131744][QUOTE=Keithhu;21131472]Funny thing ? Think I knew one individual on a harley those years who bought it new. New wasn't an option for most of us those days, well till 1985 and the advent of the Evo, a very good marketing campaign and easy financing. Fast forward 40 years and here are with the average new harley today costing $5-15 grand more than a beginner house did back then.

 

[QUOTE=TwiZted Biker;21131884][QUOTE=AJSHOVEL;21131744]Okay, some data I find interesting:
In 2000, the price of gold was $300/oz, and a 2000 Harley Fat Boy cost $15,865. So you had to spend 53 bars of gold to buy a new Fat Boy.

In 2023, the price of gold is $2,000/oz, and a 2023 Fat Boy costs $22,500 including ABS, freight and surcharge. So you only have to spend 11 bars of gold to buy a 2023 Fat Boy.

Or, using a different comparison, my house in 2000 was worth $150,000. A new Fat Boy cost 1/10 as much as my 4-bedroom 2,300 square foot house. Today, that house is valued at 450,000, and a new Fat Boy costs 1/20th as much as that house.

Using real world tangible assets, the prices of Harleys are way DOWN in comparison to inflation hedges like gold and real estate.

Damn PumaBoy(TM)!

 

[QUOTE=FatBob2018;21132145][QUOTE=TwiZted Biker;21131884]Damn, I didn't realize Harleys were so CHEAP! I'm gonna rummage through my spare change bowl, see if I have any gold bars in there, and go down and buy me one!

Thanks for that expert financial analysis!

Got any more snake oil for sale?

 

have no problem slinging it at all, but the OP specifically mentions Elon.

 

This is definitely eating into Harley budget , but how big of a slice Indian is enjoying is hard to tell . BUT I hear they’re going for seconds and the slice will be even bigger with their new model out the compete with the Softail line .