There was a guy I worked with once who did just that. Bought a metric cruiser and removed all the badges and even put a Harley decal on the side cover. Looked kind of goofy to me but to each his own. By listening to my posts on this subject some may get the impression I am totally against metric bikes, I am not. Its just that I am a big guy and have always owned Harleys because they are just a better fit for me. I am an admirer of Japanese engineering, heck I even own a Toyota. The Yamies, Kawas, and Suzies just don't have enough heart for me.

 

I do not see Harley closing dealerships. I see dealerships closing because of the economy and reduction in sales. Harley over produced, Harley lost its roots in the speciality market. They will reduce production and cause people to order bikes again.

I do not think most guys riding a shadow really care about buying a Harley. I have a mustang, I do not dream about buying a Corvette.

 

I wonder what the numbers would be on people who own motorcycles as transportation vs people like me who have them for the fun factor only (riding with the guys locally and touring road trips some), I believe a majority don't ride for transportation and most people who might like to ride would not be able to afford to have that much money tied up in a piece of equipment that sits in garage most of the time. Heck, I knew a guy once who even bought hunting equipment right before every hunting season and at the end of hunting season sold the hunting equipment to buy fishing equipment, and vice ,versa come hunting season again, honest.

 

HHMM interesting thought there ..

Mine is both transportation and recreation ..