I still have my V-Star,the only reason I didn't get a HD before was the price.I finally sat down and said to my self "I only live once F#&k the price" and when I told my wife she replied what the h**l took you so long,went out the next day and bought me an flhtcu with everything that you can get on it,so yes most of the guys that ride metrics can't afford an HD or when they look at one they get the "sticker shock",but sooner or later they do get one.Just my opinion.

 

i heard fiat had brought chrysler & a large chunk of gm europe (opal n vauxhall). so unless hd got brought by someone else it wont change

 

Congrats for moving into a higher level of planning at age 49! If health is Ok, it's a prudent thing to be able to target age 62, when SS can begin, for at least your "first" retirement. And the refi that enables being debt free by then can be a fantastic value move. Methinks that having the flexibility to pull the trigger at 62 creates real FREEDOM to revise your plans as that time comes and goes.

Sorry for the rambling... but good for you for doing the planning!!!

 

If the dealers weren't so darn cheap, and would give fair deals, they'd sell a whole lot more bikes... BUT NO....

 

Price shouldn't matter to Harley buyer's. If you read this forum long enough you will discover that only rich people buy Harley's. People that ride metric's only ride them because they can't afford a Harley.

 

I don't know if its all "can't afford", or if its "don't choose to spend that much ching", but I ride with a group of riders that changes all the time depending on who is available (Patriot Guard). I'm always going over to meet new guys and look at their bikes. I check out a lot of metric cruisers and talk to the guys on them. Most of the metric mid-size cruisers are available for under $10K, and some for quite a bit less than that (not referring to the Goldwings).

It's hardly a scientific poll, and lots of metric riders are happy with their bikes, but nearly all the guys I've spoken to told me that price was a consideration for them. In other words, they were on a metric cruiser because it DIDN'T cost $20K to get into it.

Whether most guys who ride metric cruisers just preferred metric cruisers, or are happy to have not spent $20K on a Harley, or whatever, the majority of the guys I've met who are on metric cruisers factored price into their decision. Many indicated that if Harley's were less expensive they would be riding them, but that they weren't about to spend the cash it would cost them to get into a more expensive bike because they had other things going on in their lives that soaked up disposable income.

Not that I care one way or the other.

Whatever you ride, ride safe.

 

Exactly, I was posting tongue in cheek. Every time the subject comes up here that's all you hear, "They only ride metric's because they can't afford a Harley". It's the biggest BS I've ever heard!

 

I agree.

I think Harley Davidson went through the GM/Chrysler situation years back. The older, wiser, riders should all remember the AMF years!

With that said, Harley Davidson, I believe, has corrected and should be prepared to survive this.

I can only speak for myself on this one, I have wanted a Harley for too long. But the local dealership was always $5000.00 over MSRP. Now sales are down and everything is more realistic concerning sales pricing.

Let's face it, the late 90's was a cash cow for American Motor Companies. Hell, even Indian tried to come back. Now there are quite a few independent motor companies building custom bikes still today.

I think those smaller companies may fall sooner than Harley Davidson. When I say smaller companies; I'm talking about Titan, OCC, Bigdog, American Iron Horse, etc. Too much money for a catalog bike assembled.

Just my $ 0.02

 

Hey, MetricCruiserRider1, it sounds like you were agreeing with the poster who was saying "They only ride metric cruisers because they can't afford a Harley.

 

I've been on a Harley exclusively for 39 years ..

No I'm not "rich" ..

Price has never been an issue with me .. If I have a choice between an $8000 metric or a $20000 Harley , to me it's a no brainer ..

I consider them like one would an automobile , they are not a "Luxury Item bought with Disposable Income " to me .. They are transportation that just happens to be a heckuva lotta fun along the way ..

However that said , I do know people who own a Harley and most definetly cannot afford it .. I know their family does without necessary things because of the Harley , and that is not right ..

I wonder why most of the peeps I know who have metric clones of a Harley , and say they are "happy with this bike and dont want a Harley" , always manage to remove all the brand name badges off the bikes , and ya hear 'em telling others "well it looks like a Harley"